SOLO
SOLO / WHITE T7 |
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Sensors showed that even the life support system was barely functioning on the badly damaged Correllian transport, Solo, commanding officer of Black squadron heard Blue leader on the comm, "This is Blue leader, we're doing a fly-by, switch to ion cannons!", "Blue two, standing by!". Solo watched as the two Y-wings turned to face the pirate transport, Black squadrons A-wings had been escorting Blue's Y-wings on this strike mission. They had been sent out to hunt down a pirate group and, if possible, recover some of the cargo the pirates had stolen from rebel supply ships earlier that month. | |
| They had been
sent out to hunt down a pirate group and, if possible,
recover some of the cargo the pirates had stolen from
rebel supply ships earlier that month. They caught up
with the pirates as they were preparing to leave the
sector, the ensuing battle had been short with the
pirates piloting skills not quite up to par with those of
elite rebel starfighter pilots. Alliance transports
loaded with boarding commandos were already approaching
disabled pirate ships. "Open fire with ion cannons on my mark, 4...3...", Blue leader was closing in on the drifting ship when suddenly he heard Solo's voice on the comm, "It's a trick Jake, break left now!". The bomber pilots reacted instantly, and the first shots from the laser turrets missed their mark. The Correllian ship leaped forward as its powerful engines jumpstarted, it's two turrets taking a new aim at the alliance bombers desperatly transferring energy to their engines. Solo accelerated his fighter to attack speed, diving towards the pirates and hoping to draw off the fire from the much slower Y-wings, "Go get'em Black leader, I'm going with you!", Solo couldn't help smiling as he heard the excited voice of Black 10, Lt. Txibi, whose cheerful attitude had kept up the squadron moral these last weeks. The two fighters from Blue squadron were being hit by the pirate ships guns, and Blue two's starboard engine exploded at the same time as Solo and Txibi opened fire. "I can't hold her, bailing out!", Blue two's voice was steady but tense as he pulled the ejection handle. Black squadrons A-wings were now swarming around the transport, they knew that the pirates soon had to give up. The pilot of the pirate ship suddenly made a quick maneuver placing all of Black squadron behind him, Solo growled as the Correllian ship accelerated into hyperspace. "Solo, you can't get them all!", Captain Speeder, Black's second in command contacted one of the alliance boarding ships: "We've got an ejected pilot here, looking for a ride home." "Roger, we're on our way." The pilots were relaxing in Black squadrons briefing room onboard the Saratoga, as usual after missions. Speeder leaned forward, adressing Solo, "Are you strong in the Force? How did you know what that transport was up to, Jake and his wingman would have been dead if you hadn't warned them." Solo shook his head, smiling, "No, I'm not at all Force sensitive and it wasn't a premonition either. I knew what that pirate was doing! You see, I didn't start out as a fighter pilot, I'm from Correlia and my dream was to own a Correlian Gunship and earn my living as a space trader. After working on the usual trade routes I had earned enough credits to by myself a ship, a Correlian transport with which I could really start doing business! I remember one time... wait, I'll tell you that one another time! Well, anyway I was transporting medical supplies to this backwater planet and was handing over the goods to the local authorities, when the Empire decided to take control over of the system. The beings in charge of the spaceport decided to evacuate and asked us to fly escort. They had some Z-95's and R-41's but only a handful of pilots, so I volunteered to lead the Headhunters while handing over my ship to my friend and copilot, a Sullustan. We got away, but it was close, too close for my transport. When we excited hyperspace it just imploded, my friends didn't have a chance. I then decided to join the Rebel Alliance and to become a fighter pilot. But that was a long time ago and... I'm all out of ale!" Many stories were told that night, stories about heroism and bravery, loss and grief, and of hope, hope that some day they could return home. |
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