The Battle of the Rimma Trade Route

“New target: attack squad heading for the Hand of Hate!” commanded Wes as he and his fighter squadron raced around the battlefield. With stunning speed, his group had torn through scores of fighters that attacked various Sith warships. Wes made sure to focus on protecting the ships in direct combat with the Republic ships, since the extra attacks from fighters could easily turn the tide of battle. Thanks to Wes’ quick thinking, the destruction of enemy fighters had allowed several Sith ships to destroy multiple Republic cruisers and even a dreadnaught.

“Sir, they are not breaking off as before. It seems their orders are to do as much damage as possible before they are destroyed,” noticed the squadron captain.

“It seems you are right. I applaud them for adapting to counter our strategy. It does not matter. Destroy them all, FOR THE EMPEROR!” called out Wes. His pilots cheered and followed with their own praise of the Emperor as they continued their slaughter of the Republic fighters. With their task complete, the group broke off from protecting the Hand of Hate and began searching for their new targets.

“Apprentice, I have a task for you,” came Lady Mutaria over the intercom.

“Of course, my lady, what is it?” he asked, ready to do his master’s bidding.

“The battle is lost. However, that does not mean we can gleam a prize from this loss,” she told Wes, much to his surprise.

“Lost?! But it looks like we are winning from here!” Wes openly doubted his master’s analysis of the battle.

“It may seem like that when you are in the midst of battle, blowing up Republic fighters. But here, on the ship, we can clearly see the Republic is sending reinforcements after reinforcements. It seems they committed a lot of their navy to break this blockade. It makes sense, really. Their forces in the Outer Rim are nearly depleted. If they don’t break this blockade, the Outer Rims will fall completely to us. So it is only a matter of time until their forces eventually overwhelm us. So let us make the best of time we have and further our own goals,” explained Lady Mutaria. Wes heard her words and agreed with her logic. Despite the hundreds of fighters they must have destroyed, it seemed like there were two more to replace every one that was destroyed. The Republic was throwing a massive force into this attack and it did seem as if they would break through.

“I see your logic, master. What do you wish of me?” asked Wes, ready to serve.

“I have tagged on of the Republic starships, the Jewel of Ryloth, is at the heart of the Republic fleet. This ship was, before the war, being used by Republic Jedi to examine old Sith planets. I believe they may have found an ancient Sith artifact that I need. Be a dear and get it for me. It will probably be in a lockbox in one of the Jedi’s quarters,” Lady Mutaria told Wes.

“I shall do your will,” replied Wes. “Will I have reinforcements?” he asked, not sure if even he could take on a whole ship’s worth of Republic forces.

“Of course, my dear. You and your squadron will have to come back to the Valtricous and escort a troop transport with you. It will have the finest marines on it. They can handle their own against Jedi, so do not worry about that,” Lady Mutaria reassured her apprentice.

“Of course, my lady. We shall head back now,” We informed her.

“Excellent. I shall have them prepped and ready to launch when you get here!” she said in a very cheery voice. “Lady Mutaria out,” she said as she cut the tranmission.

“Squadron, new orders: We are to escort a troop transport to a Republic ship where they and myself will infiltrate the ship and recover precious cargo for the war effort, understood?” Wes told his squadron.

“Of course, my lord, we live to serve,” the captain said, speaking for the rest of the team.

“Excellent, then let us go get a troop transport!” declared Wes as he and the fighters blasted any ships that got between them and the Valtricous. As soon as they reached the ship of Wes’ master, did he get a message over the intercom.

“This is Troop Transport 1314, ready for launch. Are the skies clear?” asked the captain of the ship.

“The skies are clear for now. Let’s get going before they realize what’s happening,” urged Wes as he and the ships formed around the Valtricous’ hanger bay. There they saw the bay open and a transport ship leave the ship. It was soon flanked by Wes and the fighters.

“Ok, clear a path!” he commanded as the ships began blasting anything in front of them. The Republic ships seemed to ignore them for half the trip until it seemed like a Republic commander figured out where they were going because that was when the Republic fighters began breaking off attacks against the other Sith ships and began to focus on Wes and the transport.

“Sir, they are increasing their attacks on us! We’ve already lost a third of our fighters! We can’t keep up this onsl-” the captain was cut off as his ship exploded near Wes.

“Sir, we can’t keep this up!” a panicked lieutenant said over the intercom. “We need to break off!” he pleaded.

“No! We shall do my lord’s bidding even if it costs us all our lives!” roared Wes through the intercom. Nobody else spoke up but did stay in formation as they were picked off one by one. Wes began to think they might not be able to complete the mission when it was just him and the transport against 50 fighters by his count. Wes did all he could to protect the transport while destroying as many fighters as he could.

“Master, shields are at 20%!” the frightened droid told Wes.

“I know!” growled Wes.

“At this rate, we’ll be destroyed in 25.4 seconds!” T2 told the increasingly angry Sith.

“If you tell me one more percentage I will destroy you personally!” yelled Wes as he dodged incoming missiles.

“I only wish to let master know our chances of survival!” replied the droid.

“Never tell me the odds!” declared Wes as a missile exploded against their shields, dropping them even lower. Wes looked on as 5 fighters headed straight for him. Wes accelerated to maximum speed and began to set the hyperdrive into overload. “If I’m going out, I’m taking as many as you bastards with me!” yelled Wes as he sped towards the incoming fighters.

Mere moments before the collision, a barrage of blaster fire hailed down on Wes’ enemies, destroying them completely. A dozen fighters buzzed down through where the Republic fighters once were as a voice came over his intercom.

“This is desolation squad, we will escort you the rest of the way. Tell your ship’s captain that she owes us one when this is all over. Her debt payment is always the best,” the captain of the squad told Wes as he and the transport, now under desolation squad’s protection, made their way to the Jewel of Ryloth.

“Blast the hanger doors and we’ll land, my lord,” the transport captain told Wes.

“Very well,” he replied as he and desolation squad fired multiple missiles at the ship’s hanger doors, blowing them off.

“Preparing to land,” the captain said as his ship made its way to the opening. Wes followed suit, allowing his annoying droid to land the ship as he prepared for a very violent welcoming party.

“We’re going to get back to the battle, radio us when you are about to leave and we’ll clear the skies for you!” the captain of desolation squad said as her ships broke off and returned to the battle at large.