Star Wars - FanFiction - Price of Failure

by Ryan Bliss

  There he found his spark, his will to turn defeat into victory. He spoke proudly now.

  "Commander Bronn, I agree to your terms. As soon as we are able to get underway, the capabilities of the Imperial Star Destroyer Gray Fist will be at the disposal of the Rebel Alliance. I ask for leniency for my crew. My officers and I are willing to--

  "That's fine, Captain," the dry static voice of Commander Bronn cut him off. "Our first concern is everybody staying alive until that point. As you can see, we have company."

  A clearer voice from the bridge cut in. "Captain, new signals, bearing point zero six nine mark one. Distance twenty clicks. Sir, its the Executioner. She has the Hammer and the Vengeance in formation." The bridge officer seemed relieved, but it seemed as if all the oxygen had been sucked from the Strategy Center. Two Star Destroyers and a Super Star Destroyer, a bad situation come worse.

  "Helm, increase our speed by the safest of increments towards the Calamari. Defensive posture.

  "Sir? Confirm, towards the Calamari?"

  "Those are my orders." He clicked off the channel, and the silence in the room was heavy. "Lieutenants,” he addressed the officers assembled, "take your posts.

  The men hustled from the room. Irtha frowned: This will be the tricky part. The crew requires stability, they need to see their officers. If their commanders are watching, they will do anything.

  The few senior officers gathered waited and watched the display. If the order to increase speed and approach the Rebel had been obeyed, they would know. Irtha had to hope that he had been convincing enough. First, the bridge crew had to believe they were in peril. If they gave the orders to their appropriate stations, the right orders, the station chiefs would mostly follow suit. If they went along, it would trickle down nicely. The process would take a few minutes.

  They watched as starfighters launched from the Executioner. Their sensor blips outpaced the larger triangle, on an intercept course with Gray Fist.

  "Communication from Lord Vader,” the bridge piped in, "no stopping it."

  The holographic tactical image was replaced by that of the dark lord, fluttering, floating in nothing. His disembodied voice rumbled, filling the room.

  "Captain Irtha, your lack of communication is most distressing. Almost as distressing as your failure to capture the Millennium Falcon. But your actions since this failure have hinted at some new, personal agenda. Tell me this is not so."

  Irtha summoned his pride and courage:

  "Lord Vader, it is no secret amongst the fleet that your tolerance of failure has reached fatal proportions. Ozzel, Needa, how many more? We know what happens to those who fail the Dark Lord of the Sith. All to well we know, and we have decided that the price is too high.

  "My assurances, Captain, I have no such plans for you." Vader opened his arms, "The Gray Fist is far too valuable a ship."

  Irtha had doubted it was possible, and still had his doubts, but it almost seemed as if the metallic wheezing of Darth Vader sounded kind.

  Major Shein, in his TIE-Interceptor, peeled away from his flight group, allowing them to continue the picket. He slowly made his way across the formation his starfighters had created. This wedge now proceeded the ailing Star Destroyer as it made to rendezvous with a Rebel Starcruiser.

  He could hardly believe his eyes when Gray Fist increased speed as the Executioner arrived, confirming his fear that the crew was now also in rebellion. Shien had always known that some of them were suspect, but he had never dreamed that enough could be turned so quickly. He didn't even know why these events had transpired.

  Communications from Gray Fist had been few since the arrival of the Rebel. They had been told to "maintain a defensive posture” and that was all. Whatever plans were being hatched aboard the Star Destroyer, they did not seem to involve the TIE squadrons, nor require their approval. It was almost as if they had been forgotten entirely. A costly oversight, Shien grinned.

  "I do not believe you. I cannot believe you, Lord Vader."

  "Then you will pay the ultimate price, Captain Irtha, and your crew will pay with you," the Dark Lord's image dispersed.

  Commander Bronn's unsympathetic voice came on the speaker.

  "If you have a move to make, you had better make it now. We cannot wait for our new neighbors to get any closer.

  "We're working on it, Commander." Irtha felt a pain in his head, throbbing, like a finger was poking around inside his mind. Irtha shook his head, trying to keep out whatever was probing him. "Bridge, ahead full. Is the hyperdrive ready?"

  "Engineering is finishing up repairs now, our shields and turbolasers are only partially operative.

  "Keep me up to date, as soon as the hyperdrive is active, I want to know about it. Full shields aft." A thought struck him. "Give me Major Shien."

  "Beta One, standing by,” again a static filled voice filled the room.

  "Major, as you know we are in dire straits. The starfighters launched from the Executioner are bound for this position and they are hostile, I repeat, hostile. Under no circumstances should they be allowed to reach this ship before we rendezvous with the Calamari, which will offer its protection until we are hyperspace capable. Until the order is given, you are to repel the attacking TIE squadrons. Understood?"

  Silence, "I understand completely, Captain. Beta-One, Out.

  The officers watched the display as their fate was measured out before them. Shien almost laughed. The Captain was a bigger fool than he had ever imagined. What arrogance, thinking the Emperor's squadrons would aid this fool's quest.

  The voice of Darth Vader filled his helmet. "You have your orders, Colonel Shien."

  He clicked on his comlink and his voice was heard throughout the flight. "All craft. Code: Vigil, secure frequency.

  To some of the wing, this meant nothing. They continued along their course as select fighters sheared away from the group and formed a new fighter wing. They formed up, three TIE-Bombers, two TIE-interceptors, and Beta-one. They held formation momentarily. Major Shien then gave a brief thought to the comrades on his ship, some of which he had served with his entire career. He thought about the meal he would have shared upon return. No more. We have served well together in our time, but now the Emperor would have us take different paths. Shien saluted and was solemn when he spoke again to condemn his former friends:

  "Code:Vigilant."

  TIE-INTs Theta-Two and Four split and accelerated towards the Star Destroyer. The three TIE-Bombers Shien had acquired for the mission, Iota-One and Two, and Sigma-One, grouped themselves tightly. They readied their payloads.

  "Commence target acquisition, Iota-One,"Shein ordered. He took position behind the bombers as their missile bays opened and they started their run.

  Illon pointed to the display, frowning. "Captain, a group of our own starfighters has turned, but the rest appear to be holding steady. The group that has turned is not on an intercept course with Executioner's fighters, but rather are closing with this ship. Beta-One is in this group! They've decided against us. Suggest we divert our shields and open fire.

  Captain Irtha thought about it, and he realized the magnitude of his error. "We can't make the sacrifice, our shields are shaky at best. Damn! Will someone give me a report on the hyperdrive?!"

  "Engineering,"the voice over the speaker was angry, "for better or worse, the hyperdrive motivator will be in place in two minutes."

  "Captain, our TIE-Bombers have locked onto us.

  "Make the calculations for a jump to hyperspace, destination--anywhere. Commander Illon--"

  But Caelus Illon was no longer in the room.

  Illon didn't have time for pre-flight checks, he wasn't even sure he would be able to fly. He wasn't rated for Tyderium shuttles, but he had to get away. Caelus went through the power systems and made each active as he had seen done so many times.

  Out the cockpit window he could see the empty hangar bay and wheeling stars below, no other ships were visible but he could see flashes of laser fire in the d
istance. Something's happening, he thought as he punched up sensor coordinates for the Rebel cruiser. He heard banging on the docking hatch, and the comlink flashed. Ready or not, he hit the release switch.

  The hangar bay rose up and away, replaced by a slightly shifting starfield as Illon's shuttle dropped from the Star Destroyer's underside. He saw the Executioner, dangerously close, with her two formidable escorts, and hit the throttle. Nothing happened. The autopilot light was on and he switched it off. The shuttle pushed forward and Illon turned away from the oncoming fleet. He brought the ship on a heading to intercept the Calamari.

  He switched to the Rebel's emergency frequency. "This is Darkhorse, this is Darkhorse, come back."

  "Darkhorse, this is Quaxal, good to hear from you. Our sensor show that your engines are not at full capacity, nor are your shields. You will need both to reach us."

  The rebel told Caelus how to transfer power from his guns to he engines and shields. "We will do everything in our power to bring you home, but you must hurry, Darkhorse. We are not prepared for battle and we cannot remain in the area for long.”

  "I understand." Caelus saw engines of Gray Fist's TIE squadrons between him and his goal. The rebel cruiser was so far away. "I tried, you know.

  "We know, come home, Darkhorse, you've earned it.

  Illon switched the comlink off. A flash caught his eye to the left. Torpedoes, he shivered, they're doomed. He counted six when he had to look away. Gray Fist's squadrons were closing.

  He took a deep breath and tried to resign himself to the fact that his destiny was out of his hands. Illon had little hope of outpiloting the experienced Imperial fighters, he could only rely on his shields and clarity of purpose. Caelus Illon flew towards his dream.

  Colonel Shien watched with satisfaction as the first three proton torpedoes sailed off towards their separate targets on the Star Destroyer. They were running hot. Then his plan started to fall apart. He noticed, too late, that four TIE-Fighters had not held course, but had followed.

  "Mu-One, report, you are off course,"Shien said angrily.

  His computer buzzed an answer as his Warning Indicator lit up, someone was trying to lock their guns on him. Just as he was taking evasive action he saw bright green shafts of energy pelt the TIE-bomber line, Sigma-One was annihilated.

  "Bombers, fire!" he screamed as he moved to intercept the TIE fighters.

  Theta-Two and Theta-Four backed him up as he led Mu-One into his sights. Two squeezes on his flightstick trigger sent eight shafts of laser energy into Mu- One's hull. The unshielded fighter broke into a thousand flaming particles. His sensors showed five torpedoes heading for I.S.D. Gray Fist. That should be lesson enough. Shien swung in behind Mu-Two and connected with three hits to his left solar panel, which blew off and hurtled into space. What was left of the TIE- Fighter spun wildly out of control, and was easily lined up for the kill shot. Then his sensors showed the shuttle departing from Gray Fist. He smiled, Oh no, my friends, there is no mercy in space. Turning from the helpless TIE- Fighter, he moved to pursue.

  The great turbolaser batteries of the Gray Fist fired wildly now, once again trying to intercept incoming torpedoes.

  "Captain, someone has launched a shuttle without authorization. Sensors show, sir, it's Commander Illon. He's heading for the Rebel. Irtha didn't have time to be shocked as he watched the torpedoes on the display, coming in slowly, inexorably blinking their way towards the red triangle that kept him alive. He opened a channel. "Commander Bronn, we could use some assistance here.

  Static.

  A great shock wave then rolled across the ship, knocking them all to the floor, followed by another, and another. The holograph disappeared and the room was plunged into darkness. All was noise and vibration. Another shockwave, another. Captain Irtha scrambled across the floor and out the hatchway to the bridge.

  Outside the main viewport he gazed in horror on the fiery disaster that was his ship. Whole sections of the hull had been blown into space, plasma fires burned, and now everything was spreading. In space he saw the glittering engines of starfighters darting about, some of which were firing on his ship, some of which were engaged in dogfights. The dead surrounded him and the bridge itself was on fire.

  What have I done?

  Irtha stood at the helm and watched his ship come apart, as the Captains of his homeworld had done for generations.

  Though chasing the fleeing shuttle, Colonel Shien found the time to smile grimly as he glimpsed the Gray Fist tumbling a blazing spiral through space. A waste, really, he thought. Reinforcements from Executioner helped clean up the remaining resistance.

  The shuttle before him came within firing range and he let loose with his laser cannons. He connected two on the aft shield and port wing. Then his sensors told him he had company. A squadron of three X-Wings shot from behind the Calmari, cannons blazing. He felt the stinging cracks of laser fire on his hull. He was in danger now. But Shien, not ready to give up, scored three more hits on the shuttle craft. The shuttle tried to evade, the X-Wings closed, and Shien continued firing. His target rolled and swerved from side to side, attempting to evade, but Shien pressed the attack. With a well placed shot to the ship's unshielded engine, the shuttle disintegrated in a flameless explosion. He throttled up and turned about as two TIE- Interceptors from Executioner joined him. The X-Wings fled to the safety of their ship, which was pulling away, in defeat. He let them go, as his ship was nearly destroyed.

  Before him was the blazing hull of the Gray Fist. He, briefly wondered if Lord Vader would try to retrieve the Captain from the ship, so he could personally "reward"him for his loyalty. This question, however, was answered as the Gray Fist came into range of the super Star Destroyer Executioner. It's laser barrage was short but intense and the numerous reactors aboard the Grey Fist went critical at once, expending themselves in light, which temporarily blinded Shien, and merciful heat which disintegrated the bones of all aboard and sent the ship in every possible direction at once.

  The remaining fighters then formed up to attack the Calmari. Four TIE- Bombers started a missile run, but to their chagrin the Rebel cruiser went into motion, fading quickly from sight before jumping into hyperspace. A wise move. Beta-Two formed up with the remaining ships and headed for Executioner, keeping a sharp eye out for debris floating through the frozen battlefield. Then remorse hit him, he realized that he had lost his home, and many of his friends and comrades. Quan Shein pounded his fist down upon his thigh and swore. A terrible day, terrible.

  On Jhryss the sea continued to slowly nibble away the land. Young people, the elders said, no longer cared about the old ways, the sea. Many were leaving for other planets, some with the Empire, some, more and more, with the Rebellion. Politics and erosion were the topics of the summer.

  Poran Irtha sat on her enclosed porch working a pottery wheel, humming an old song of farewell while listening to the waves crash ashore. She was trying to concern herself with neither politics or erosion. For now, everything seemed right, and calm. It was a hot day, yet the cold clay spinning beneath her fingers cooled her as it slowly became a fine vessel. It has been too long since I have worked the clay, she thought, why do I feel the need today? She admired her work. Her youngest daughter Klio, sat across from her, reading a history book. A buzzing noise distracted her and she fumbled the clay. The pot was ruined. Looking up she saw before her a black droid.