“Your comment is noted, Fel. Greelanx out.”
The tiny holo-figure popped out of existence.
Soontir Fel stood for a moment, head bowed. Captain Darv Eldon had been one of his classmates in the Academy. They had been close friends for nearly ten years. His death was like a vibroblade wound.
Fel swallowed, then straightened his shoulders. He would have time to grieve later. Right now, it was his duty to kill as many of these smugglers as he could …
At first, Han Solo found it very strange to shoot at TIE fighters, rather than fly them. As soon as Mako had ordered in the First Strike Element, Han, with Chewie and Jarik in the Bria’s wing-mounted gun turrets, had gone after and engaged several TIEs. He’d nailed two, so far, and was cruising through the debris, looking around for more.
The Bria had one weakened rear shield, which put her engines in possible jeopardy should she take another big hit there, but was otherwise undamaged, due largely to Han’s flying expertise.
Han was one of the few smugglers who was flying without a partner.
Mako wanted him free to keep watch over the fleet, to go where he was needed without encumbrances. Han recognized that Mako’s decision was a testament to his own flying skill and was pleased.
Han glanced over at the left gun turret on the Bria’s wing, and saw Jarik in the movable seat, headset in place. So far, the kid hadn’t done well.
He’d been overeager, nervous, and had managed to miss everything he’d aimed at. Han was beginning to think he shouldn’t have encouraged him to come along for the ride.
Chewbacca had done considerably better, hitting one TIE fighter and sending it wheeling away. Seconds later it had crashed into a large piece of debris and exploded.
Han himself had gotten another TIE with his bow-mounted twin lasers.
Mako’s voice came over his headphones. “Listen up! Those skirmish ships are arrivin’ and engaging at will! Everyone stay sharp!”
Han had just decided to go hunting for one of the skirmish ships, when suddenly a TIE fighter swooped toward them, lasers blasting.
“Chewie, Jarik!” Han yelled. “Look sharp!” Automatically he evaded the blasts, and triggered a shot with his bow guns.
A clean miss. Han swore.
Another TIE was swooping toward them, eager to catch the Bria in a crossfire. Han snapped off a shot at it as he sent his ship swooping away, and saw the TIE wobble. He’d hit it!
The other TIE came in again, and this time Chewbacca was right there, firing, firing… A sudden Wookiee howl of rage and frustration echoed in Han’s headphones.
He’s been hit! was Han’s first thought, and his breath caught in his chest, but when he looked to his right, he saw Chewie bouncing up and down in his movable seat, roaring, cursing, and waving his long, hairy arms, obviously furious—but unhurt.
What’s got into him? Han wondered, then he looked again, and saw what had happened.
The Bria’s gun-control yoke, wires dangling, was clutched in Chewie’s paw-hands. In his enthusiasm to nail the TIE, Chewbacca had forgotten to ration his great Wookiee strength; he’d ripped the control yoke clean out of the gun mount!
Now it was Han’s turn to swear. “Chewie, you big furry oaf! Look what you did!”
Chewbacca snarled in Han’s headphones that he was only too aware of what he’d done. Han had never heard his hairy friend use language like that before.
Whump! A shot from the TIE had impacted on the Bria’s amidships shield.
Hey, Solo—Concentrate on your flying, or you’re gonna be dead—Han shook his head, realizing that from now on, he’d have to consider his right side as crippled, and shield it as best he could.
He spoke into his headset. “Jarik, listen up, kid! Chewie broke off the blasted gun yoke in the right turret! It’s all up to you to nail these TIEs!” Jarik’s voice was faint and shaky. “Mmmm … me?”
“Yeah, you! Now look sharp! He’s comin’ in again!”
Jarik crouched in his movable seat in the left gun turret, frozen with terror. My worst nightmare come true! I’m going to kill us all!
He forced himself to straighten up and swiveled, looking for the TIE.
The targeting grid hung before him. Would he be able to zero in on anything? He didn’t know. He’d failed miserably, so far.
Where is it, where Suddenly he saw it. There it was, coming in a looping path from overhead that would allow it to flip over and then get off a shot at the Bria’s bow.
I can’t do it … what if I can’t do it? Jarik’s mind screamed, but somehow his hands were moving, and then his body was following suit as he swiveled in his seat. There was the targeting grid, there was the TIE and suddenly–the two images were one.