Star Wars VIII: Stand of the Republic

01: Fighting Withdrawal

A large dome structure with a supporting pillar underneath, the space station hung low in orbit while swarms of fighters and transport ships departed in a resemblance of a Melinderan seed pod releasing its spores to the winds. Auxiliary rings, mounted around the support pillar, held supplementary systems such as the curved dish of the communication's array and bulky cubes housing proton torpedo and concussion missile launchers.

The interior of the station was an equal flurry of activity as the evacuation continued as rapidly as possible. A miniature hologram of General Leia Solo appeared from a computer console on the main deck of the station. The Commander of the orbiting base snapped to attention.

"You're behind schedule," Leia began without introduction. "What's the problem?"

"The arsenal is seventy percent cleared," the Commander reported.

"The First Order has increased the speed of its attacks," Leia warned. "Focus on getting your people out first. We'll come back for the ordinance and equipment later if we can. If not, destroy it on your way out to prevent its capture."

"Understood," the Commander accepted without protest. He turned to one of his aides and quickly imparted the change in orders before returning his attention to his superior. "What about your ships?"

"As you know, the First Order won't be able to enter the system at a distance because of asteroid field on this side," Leia's hologram explained. "If they come in closer to avoid the asteroids, they'll be in range of the station's weapons. Don't worry about us, just get your people loaded. We'll be fine."

The station's lighting went red in the same instant alarms began sounding. The Commander reached over to a nearby console and brought up a sensor image of the surrounding space. His jaw clenched as a fleet of First Order Star Destroyers dropped from hyperspace inside the solar system. He returned his attention to the hologram of Leia.

"General, they're here."

***

On the bridge of the leading Star Destroyer, General Hux looked in satisfaction on the Republic activity around the station.

"Have Captain Canady focus his attacks on the fleet and ignore the station for the time being," Hux ordered. "Give the scum no way to run. Then, we'll finish them at our leisure."

The communication officer acknowledged the instructions but waited to transmit them as the ship with Captain Canady had yet to arrive and was still isolated in hyperspace.

In the middle of the First Order formation, a massive cruiser suddenly appeared as it exited hyperspace. Covered in armor and bristling with weapon ports, the powerful warship was the personal vessel for Captain Canady, leader of the First Order's primary assault fleet.

"We have incoming," the tactical officer reported to Hux as a blip appeared on her display screen.

"Number and type of ships?" Hux requested.

"Only one," the officer answered.

Hux turned his attention toward the female officer and the computer terminal in front of her. He looked over the display himself with puzzlement, but only one fighter was heading toward the First Order fleet, all other ships were clustered around the station.

"Contact Captain Canady," Hux ordered and a hologram of an older man in a uniform marked with the rank of Captain appeared before him. The Captain was a big man with a rounded face and thinning hair.

"General Hux," Canady acknowledged, his hologram offering a nod in greeting.

"Deploy all fighter squadrons at once, Captain," Hux said without preamble.

"It's only one fighter," Canady protested.

"Unless the pilot is committing suicide, they have something planned," Hux countered. "Don't make me repeat my order, Captain."

Although the tone was calm, Hux put extra emphasis on the rank of his subordinate to ensure the debate wouldn't continue for a moment longer.

"Keep the majority of the fighters near your dreadnought for cover," Hux went on. "Send two squadrons to eliminate the incoming enemy."

"Aye, General," Canady accepted, his posture straightening. Turning toward his bridge crew Canady relayed the instructions from Hux. "Launch all fighters into standby. Two squadrons on interception, fire at will."

***

The modified x-wing flew alone in the darkness of space, seeming very small as it approached the fleet of Star Destroyers.

BB-8 let out a series of tones from the droid socket behind the cockpit.

"What are you worried about?" Poe Dameron asked from the pilot's seat. "Accomplishing crazy things is what I'm known for. It's what I do best."

"Don't get too crazy out there," Leia warned through the active communication system. "We need you in one piece."

"Understood, General," Poe acknowledged.

Swarms of TIE fighters launched from the dreadnought and formed a wide bubble around it. Two squadrons broke away from the others and came straight toward Poe. He took a steadying breath, his hands securing a tighter grip on the controls as he glanced toward the power status indicator. The blue bar increasing on the gauge passed seventy-five percent. Poe's eyes flicked back and forth between the display and the incoming fighters, wondering if the power would be available before the enemy ships were in weapons range.

BB-8 was beeping nervously behind him, and Poe did his best to ignore it, concentrating on the power level indicator while his hand held steady on the throttle in preparation. The progress bar reached the top of the display, and the entire screen tinted itself green.

"Hang on!" Poe shouted, throwing the throttle control forward into maximum. The modified engine added to the tail of his fighter engaged, shoving Poe back into his seat as his craft surged forward at incredible speed. TIE fighters blurred past his cockpit; many of them tried to fire on him, but his velocity let him move beyond them before they successfully target him, green lasers crisscrossing harmlessly behind him.

The defending squadrons of TIE fighters had been deployed around the dreadnought to provide cover before an enemy could get close, but the modification of Poe's fighter had allowed him to bypass them and attack the dreadnought directly before they could catch up with him.

Laying his targeting reticle over the first of the heavy cannons, Poe pressed the button on his navigation stick to send a flurry of red lasers into the gun, watching in satisfaction as it exploded in a bright fireball and a cloud of debris expanding outward into space. He dodged and weaved between the return fire of the dreadnought's turbo lasers. Because the turbo lasers were used for slower moving cruisers, he wasn't as concerned with them as we was with the heavy cannons. Further ahead, some of the cannons turned toward the station and evacuation fleet, barrels glowing red as they powered up for firing. Poe knew he was running out of time.