Star Wars VII - Revised and Redacted

Chapter 16: Trickery

Author's note: After Phasma gives them what they wanted in the movie, Han has her tossed down the garbage chute into the trash compactor. Killing someone after they've cooperated and given everything without resistance is the action of the bad guys. I also think that after having been in a trash compactor before, Han would have a little more sympathy for anyone else dying in that manner.

I switched the scene so Finn suggests it, but Han refuses immediately, ordering her to be tied up instead. Also, I didn't think Phasma's devotion to the First Order would be so easily surrendered, so I changed that as well.

The next scene...

"General," a lieutenant reported to Leia. "Our scout ship reports the point defense system has powered down."

"Great going, Han," Leia praised. She switched on the communication channel. "Admiral, you have a go."

"May the Force be with us," Akbar replied.

On the holographic display, the assembled Republic fleet in orbit began vanishing from the image as the ships jumped to lightspeed.

***

"I appreciate your decision not to kill me," Phasma told Han while Finn was searching for something to restrain her with. "As a courtesy in return, you should know I was aware of your presence prior to my capture."

"You let yourself get captured?" Finn asked, instantly halting his search.

"I had to know how many intruders we had to deal with as well as what your objectives might be," Phasma explained.

"You're still our prisoner," Finn reminded walking back over to her and staring defiantly.

"Am I really?" Phasma questioned. Her voice was eerily calm. "Did you know there are diagnostic programs for the point defense lasers that power them down for a full check and then turn them back on again?"

The computer console beeped, and the red indicators switched back to green as the defense grid reactivated.

"You can't beat the First Order," Phasma said directly to Finn before slamming her helmet into his face, staggering him backwards. Phasma ran for the exit. Han and Finn both tried to shoot her. The blaster shots hit her armor, but the reflective surface caused them to ricochet away and explode against the ceiling and walls in eruptions of sparks. She escaped unharmed as alert sirens began going off.

"Her guards are probably coming to kill us," Finn said. "We need to get out of here."

"Just a second," Han countered. He gestured to Chewie and the Wookiee fired several shots into the control console, destroying the systems and causing the defense grid to power down once more. "Now we can go."

Han looked out into the service hallway and had to instantly duck back as a hail of blaster fire tore into the walls around him.

"Not that way," Han remarked, heading in the opposite direction. "Let's try this way."

***

The Republic fleet exited hyperspace over Starkiller base, but they were not alone. Alerts began sounding almost at once as swarms of TIE fighters were launched from the planet surface and from a concealed hangar on one of the moons.  Four Star Destroyershung low in orbit, ideally placed for either attack or defense. 

"Fighters protect the cruisers and bombers while we begin the assault," Akbar instructed.

"All right, people," Poe shouted eagerly from behind the controls of his X-wing. "Have at them!"

The Republic fighters broke formation and engaged the First Order ships in battle. The smaller vessels hit by the green or red lasers vanished in fiery explosions. As the cruisers and Y-wing bombers moved into position to attack the main cannon, they fired on enemy ships in passing, and for a few minutes, it appeared as if the defenders wouldn't be able to even slow them down.

Dropping from hyperspace between the Republic fleet and the Starkiller cannon, four more Star Destroyers and number of smaller support ships moved in to block the attack route.

"Y-wings, concentrate on the support ships," Akbar ordered. "Cruisers, open fire on the nearest Star Destroyer."

The Republic had made a number of advancements since the Empire had fallen as they'd appropriated designs and weaponry from liberated Imperial shipyards and research centers. Unlike the times the Rebellion had fought overwhelming odds against the Empire, the Republic cruisers could now match the First Order ship for ship and they did so in a hail of turbolasers.

The Star Destroyers weathered the assault as best they could, taking moderate damage before returning fire. Republic vessels trembled and shook under the punishing bombardment, but their deflector shields diverted anything but a direct hit and prevented the majority of harm.

The First Order cruisers shifted positions, moving out of range of the Republic weapons.

"They're trying to draw us away from the cannon," one of the bridge officers reported.

"It's a delay to give the weapon time to charge," Akbar concluded. "Fire on the First Order ships in passing but make full speed to that cannon!"