Since the Empire has been doing so well, I've decided that they'll be launching a counter-attack against the Rebellion forces this week. If they do well here, they could really seal the deal since they've been ahead the previous three weeks.
Update: As of the time of this posting (one day before Week 4 wraps up). Rebels are actually ahead! Very happy to see some fight in them. While it could turn the other way still, it looks like (for now) the rebels have successfully repelled this attack. Also, while these shorts are written quickly, this week hasn't yet been through the ole' writing group - it'll be updated soon!
Galactic Empire - Captain Tracton Thorn
As he walked through the halls, Thorn could taste the excitement that now permeated the station. Marooned to a backwater station with little hope of action, these soldiers just had their first taste of victory in battle. They wanted more.
There was an undercurrent of anger and loss, as one would expect. Familiarity bred connections, alongside contempt. But their losses had been relatively light, each flight losing only a handful of fighters. Thorn had engagements against Rebels go much, much worse, to say nothing of the loss of his own ship.
Sweat ran down the sides of his face, his jumpsuit underarms soaked through. Both reminders of the junker TIE he had been forced to fly in while modifications of his personal craft were still underway.
At the end of the skirmish, opportunity had shown herself to Thorn once again. And she had come with a low cut dress and high heels - she was Thorn’s for the taking. From bulkhead door up ahead, he could hear the usual cheers, shouts, and jests from Imperial fighter jockeys.
While he showed no outward sign, it did take him back. Like memories from another life, one long forgotten - when his biggest concern was becoming the best pilot he could and convincing Maya to let him into her bunk. There had been something so...impressive, admirable about her, even then as young Imperial Ensign. She had known where she was going.
Though he’d never say it aloud, the truth his older self had come to know was that Maya was just too sharp to fall for him. Not all the way. She had known what he was and he had proven it to her before the end. He just hadn’t realized the regret that…
And there he went again. When was that damn woman going to stop haunting him? Like he didn’t have enough problems right now.
Putting aside those unwelcome thoughts, Tracton strode into the prep room without ceremony or warning. The pilots’ cheers and playful banter wound down quickly. Flight helmets and garments were strewn across the room, though Tracton noted with some regret no one interesting had fully undressed yet.
“Suit back up, pilots. We’re in the black in 15 minutes.”
He could see the confusion in their faces but carried on without explanation.
“Which one of you had the brains to drop the tracker?”
A mouse of a woman near the back of the room raised a hand. “That’d be me, sir.”
“Have a name pilot?”
“Lieutenant First Class Sora Labu, sir.”
“I see. Well, Lieutenant, I commend you for your foresight,’ he focused on addressing the group again, ‘Thanks to some quick wit and damn good flying from Lt. Labu we can gut these rebel bastards while they’re licking their wounds.”
Tracton could see many of the pilots share a predatory grin. He had wisely neglected to mention that they, too, were licking their wounds as well. By attacking them, the Imperials would be putting pressure on the rebels where it counted, and they’d fight all the harder because of it.
“Which one of you in 3rd Flight flew the Interceptor that tagged that Y-Wing?”
A young man to his right who had been calmly leaning against his locker stood up straight and nodded, “Lieutenant Matias Phillai, sir.”
“FILL-AYE?” Traction asked, annoyed.
“Friends call me Lai for short, sir.”
“Right, let’s go with that. Lai, you’re with me on this sortie. Lost one of my escorts and I find myself in need of skilled help. Taking down that Y-Wing probably saved most of your flight from being blown to bits.”
“Sir.” Lai just nodded gratefully. No excessive verbal floundering. Tracton could appreciate a subordinate who got straight to the point.
“I’ll see the rest of you in the hangar in fifteen. Grab a nutrition pack and stimms, but don’t overhydrate. Lot harder to kills rebels if you’re wasting concentration on not pissing yourself.”
Just as abruptly as he came, Tracton strode back out into the passageway. He was pleased to see that Lt. Lai had fallen into step behind him without further comment.
If not for that vertically challenged Lieutenant Labu, Tracton would have been forced to wait for the Rebels to strike again once they broke away. She had been smart to think of dropping a tracker onto one of their fighters, and apparently skillful if she could pull it off without any help. Still, he would have preferred she had brought the idea up beforehand, at least then he could have taken the credit for it. Smart and ambitious. She wasn’t really his type, Tracton preferred his women a little less ‘child sized’ but if he was trapped here long enough then maybe she’d serve for his purposes.
Hopefully, however, they’d be done with this rebellious rabble before the day was out and he could arrange for transport back actual populated space. Of course, if someone along the Imperial Command ladder had found out he was here, without orders, pursuing a rogue force he had told no one about, then he wouldn’t be around to do either of those things.
Lieutenant Matias “Lai” Phillai - Galactic Empire
“Lai, the captain wants a word.”
Matias finished buckling his harness and began flipping his console switches that would begin startup for his fighter’s engines.
That didn’t sound good.
“Which captain?” he asked.
“Your Captain,’ the tone implying that he shouldn’t have even asked.
But the situation at Umbra Station lately was an awkward one. Captain Reyas technically had seniority as far as the station and its personnel were concerned. But it had also become clear, rather quickly, that Captain Thorn had a much greater range of experience to draw from.
“I’m ready. Put him through.”
The tech either didn’t hear or chose not to respond. A second later Captain Reyas’ gentle voice came through the comms, ‘Lieutenant Lai. How are you?”
This was one the captain’s attempts at subtlety, Lai knew. The man wasn’t very good at subtle.
“What can I do for you, sir?”
Best to get this over with quickly. There was a mission to fulfill and Lai would miss his launch time if the Captain was too nervous to get to the point.
“It’s about Captain Thorn,’ he hesitated, ‘I’ve called for additional reinforcements and informed them of Captain Thorn’s presence.”
“Yes?”
“They did not see fit to explain to me his original mission, but it was also made clear that they were not aware of his being here. They also asked about the status of his ship and sister ships.”
Damn. No wonder Thorn had been quiet about his original objectives. But still, perhaps there was an explanation.
“Thank you, sir. I’ll be sure-
“Listen, Lieutenant. If things don’t go well on this flight, there’s no need to endanger Umbra Station further by risking Thorn’s influence here.”
Lai felt a tightening in his core, a shiver ran along his arms. Was the Captain really asking for this? Thorn was impressive even if he was something of a bully.
“What are you asking, sir?”
Lai wasn’t going to do anything that could risk his career without a direct order. He was going to make the man say the words.
“If this counter-attack doesn’t go well, make sure Umbra Station isn’t at further risk.”
By the station of course, he meant himself. Reyas had finally figured out that Thorn’s dynamic style was attractive to the station personnel. That Thorn was a threat to his leadership there.
“By that you mean??” Lai let the question hang in the air. No command, no action.
He heard a sigh come from the Captain’s comm.
“Shoot him down.”
That at least, was pretty clear.