The Republic's Blockade Bust

“So there I was, cock in each hand and one in my mouth when our CO came into the room,” regaled Captain Rashel to Wes while they sat in the mess hall. “Didn’t even stop. Just kept going. Apparently the Co took one look at what was happening, opened his mouth to say something but just turned around and left. Best bet I ever lost...” finished Captain Rashel as a small smile spread across her lips as she remembered the rather fond memory. Wes just sat there, my agap, food falling off his fork as he attempted to process the story he had just heard from the captain of the ship he was now part of.

“I...uh..oh...” was all he could sputter out. Rashel let out a hearty laugh at her conversation partner.

“The boys never do know how to react to that story,” the captain said in a rather sultry tone.

“Uh yeah...maybe sometime we could uh play-” Wes was cut off as alarms blared and red lights began flashing.

“Attention all hands: Republic ships have dropped out of hyperspace! All hands report to battle stations! Repeat: Republic ships inbound! All hands to battle stations!” the officer in charge announced over the loudspeakers.

“To the bridge, now!” roared Captain Rashel as she and Wes jumped up and made their way to the turbolifts. A few Imperial soldiers in the way of the two found themselves on the wrong end of a Force Push as the two officers made their way to the bridge as fast as they possibly could.

“Reinforce forward shields!” barked the officer in charge. “Focus fire on the frigates and cruisers! Let the dreadnoughts worry about enemy dreadnoughts!” he ordered to the weapons officers.

“Contact the destroyer Rashaleli. They are the lead ship for our block,” Captain Rashel ordered in a far more calm tone than the previous officer, who turned to see the captain and saluted her.

“Captain on the bridge!” announced the young man.

“At your stations. Relay to me what the Rashaleli orders as soon as they reply.”

“Yes, ma’am!” said the communications officer.

Apprentice, go to the flight deck and take the interceptor. There are far too many fighters attack our ships, don’t you agree?” asked Lady Mutaria as she walked next to Captain Rashel, catching everyone on the bridge completely unaware.

“Yes, master,” Wes said as he bowed before he turned and headed back towards the turbolift. Wes got in and pressed the button for the flight deck. “This is it, Wes. Your first real taste of combat in a war. You fought the Force Ghost of Darth Malak but that was an odd and unique circumstance. This is gonna be true warfare. An enemy fleet is attacking us. And I’ve been ordered to fight them in a fighter. I will do this! I will do this for my glory, for my master, and FOR THE EMPIRE!” Wes shouted that last part right as the doors opened to the flight deck. The soldiers all looked at him for a second, with his hand raised on the air with a clenched fist, before they erupted in a chant of “FOR THE EMPIRE!” as they boarded their ships and began to launch.

“My lord, may I ask why you are here?” asked the deck commander.

“Lady Mutaria has ordered me to take command of our fighters while flying the interceptor,” Wes told the commander with a stern confidence in his voice. It wasn’t quite what he was ordered to do, but Wes was about 70% sure his master would be ok with his taking command of all the ships fighters.

“O-oh. Well, ok, my lord. I will relay the message to the fighters in the air already,” the flight commander said as he excused himself and made his way to the radio. Wes made his way to the ship and entered it.

“Oh, welcome my-” Wes cut off the droid before it could finish its greeting.

“Droid, prepare the ship for combat. We go to battle!”

“O-of course, master! I serve to please!” answered a very scared 2V-T9 responded to Wes as it quickly scuttled its way to the bridge to prepare the ship for launch. Wes sat in the captain’s seat of the ship and began to go over the checklist as 2V began the start up sequence.

“Attention Valtricous fighters: apprentice of our beloved Lady Mutaria, Wes, shall be taking command of our fighters. All ships are to follow his orders!” announced the flight commander to all fighters of the Valtricous.

“My my! It seems my apprentice has taken it upon himself to take command of all my fighter squadrons!” mused Lady Mutaria.

“Is that a problem, my lady?” asked Mutaria’s trusted captain.

“Oh no, quite the opposite actually. I figured it would take him far longer to gain the courage to take direct command of my troops without my explicit instructions,” explained Lady Mutaria. “Perhaps I can expect far more from him than I initially thought. Either way, let us see what my apprentice can do with command of my fighters,” declared Lady Mutaria as she continued to watch the battle rage around her.

“All fighters form up on me!” ordered Wes as his fury class ship blasted through a few Republic fighters that attempted to destroy any Imperial fighters that were launching from the Valtricous. Wes quickly found himself in trouble as a squadron of Republic fighters began to attack him.

“2V, divert power from life support to engines! We’re gonna need the extra power to get out of this alive!” ordered Wes as he began to perform evasive maneuvers. The ship zipped between the nooks and crannies of the Valtricous as the Republic dog fighters stayed on par with Wes’ various movements.

“Master, shields down to 50%!” cried out 2V with a clear tinge of panic in his voice.

“Shut it, droid!” shouted Wes as he performed a barrel roll in an attempt to lose some of the fighters while dodging their attacks. At this point Wes could feel the ship shake as blaster bolt after blaster bolt smashed into his ship’s now dwindling shields. Just as all hope seemed lost, as Wes blasted out past the destroyer’s aft blades, a barrage of blaster bolts rained down on the enemies that chased him.

“Looks like you have some pests following you, sir. Ravage Squad is here to help!” a confident voice announced over the comm channel. The squadron quickly flanked Wes’ ship and flew in a tight formation.
“What are your orders, sir?” asked the squad leader. Wes smiled before he answered.

“Simple. We destroy every fighter we see, and cripple any frigate and above we see!” declared Wes as he and the squadron raced towards a pack of Republic fighters that was harassing another destroyer.