The Hex Wing Series Chapter Five

 

The Hammerhead Corvette Vestige exited hyperspace and was met with a view of the Retaliator flanked by the Liberty and Defiance. The Vestige was Remnant squadrons command ship and carried a number of modifications to help in their specialised role. It was rarely deployed in battle however, Remnant had perfected strike attacks against Imperial capital ships using fighters, which meant they rarely took prisoners.

“Retaliator, this is Larma onboard the Corvette Vestige, request permission to dock”

“Vestige, you are cleared to dock with Retaliator.”

“You think you can take us in without hitting anything this time Hersy?” Larma addressed the pilot at the Vestiges helm who looked back at him and shrugged.

“It’s a hammerhead, its supposed to hit things. If you don’t want me to hit you then get out of the way.”

Larma shook his head, “Just watch the paintwork.”

 

After docking with the Retaliator, Sticks, Leaph, Hersy and Larma made their way to the bridge briefing room where they were met by Honsou. “Welcome Remnant Squadron, I’ve heard a lot about you although Scorer here has been giving me an alternative version of things.”

Sticks looked around at the opulence on display in the room. “I see Karktiss believed in keeping things simple then.”

“At everyone else’s expense yes,” Honsou stepped to one side and raised an arm towards the others present, “please, come and take a seat. We should discuss our next move.”

“Our next move?” Sticks frowned and looked at Leaph, Larma and Hersy. “I thought this was a Remnant mission, we don’t usually work with others.”

Raised voices and shouts from the corridor outside interrupted the conversation. Leaph leaned over and whispered to Larma “Speaking of not working well with others.”

Saywah entered the room, his arms raised in apology “I said we should wait on board but she wasn’t happy and I like not having broken bones.”

Angel burst in behind him, eyes blazing with anger and strode towards Scorer. “This was your mission, you said you had this.” She planted herself in front of him, feet shoulder width apart and hands on hips, staring him down.

“No. I said we would handle this, Scorer was in charge but I was the one that said we’d bring Karktiss in.” Cosmic stood up and placed himself between Angel and Scorer. “You’re too close to this Angel,” the older man looked towards Sticks, “I told you to leave her off this one.”

“She has a way of politely telling someone where to go.” Sticks answered, “and while I will accept your suggestion, ultimately I decide how Remnant deploys on a mission.”

“You said you would bring him in.” Angel spoke again, this time addressing Cosmic. “You failed, now we do this my way.”

“Remnants way.” Sticks corrected.

“Whatever,” Angel flicked her head to Sticks then back to Cosmic, “but Karktiss goes down with the ship.”

“All right,” Scorer said, “Remnants way. But you can’t do this one alone, not now.”

“I agree,” said Cosmic, “The Alliance needs to be united on this one. Plus, we have a shiny new Star Destroyer to use.”

“Hold on,” Honsou stepped forward, “This crew surrendered to your New Republic but we will not fight this battle for you.”

“Agreed Captain, your crew will not be forced to take part in further hostilities but I would be happy to consider applications to the join the fleet in the New Republic.” Scorer interjected then took the seat at the head of the large meeting table that occupied the main part of the room. “Now, we should discuss options for our next attack. Captain you may of course be excused but my offer stands if you would like to poll your crew. Those who do not want to defect will be processed through security checks then given safe passage back to Coruscant. Jarakin and Cosmic will remain, Erisi I assume and who else from Remnant?”

“I’m staying.” Angel stated rather than asked, glaring at Sticks.

“I agree with Cosmic on this Angel,” Sticks replied, shaking his head, “Not this time. Leaph and I will plan this one out.”

Angel’s face flushed, her jaw muscles clenching tightly and she stepped forward raising a fist before abruptly turning, her hair whipping round behind her as she stormed out of the briefing room in a string of shouted curses aimed at everyone present. Those remaining in the room looked at one another. Jarakin whistled, “Man I am glad I am not bunking with you guys tonight.”

“Yeah I think I might find some quarters on the Retaliator tonight.“ Saywah answered, looking at the open doorway where Angel’s bright language could still be heard echoing down the deck.

“Ok guys, give us the room please. I’ll talk to Angel later.” Sticks said.

“Actually, I have some ideas, I’d like to stay.”

“Ok Hersy, everyone else, I’ll take you through it once things are finalised.” Sticks stood and waved everyone to the door, “Make sure everything is prepped and use the time to resupply off the Liberty and Defiance. Retaliator too if it’s now under the Republic flag.”

 

Angel dropped to one knee and placed her left fist on the ground. She tensed and readied her body to propel itself up once more, then launched herself at the punch bag. She delivered a savage upper cut, then as she landed she pirouetted and delivered a powerful roundhouse kick to the side of the heavy bag. She’d been at it for hours, ever since being told to leave the planning meeting. She hadn’t even bothered getting changed, her flight suit stripped halfway down and tied round her waist, her t-shirt wet with sweat and her hair clung in strands around her face. Breathing heavily, she stepped back for a moment and pulled some of the hair back in to position.

“Nice technique.”

She didn’t even turn around, just placed her hands on her hips and looked up. “It’s either the punch bag or you.”

“I’ve known you a long time Angel. You’re a great pilot, no question, best in the fleet. But this is too personal, I couldn’t have you out there making a mistake.”

“A mistake?!” She spun round now to face him. “I am alone because of what he did to my Home world. I have no-one left in the whole damn galaxy Cosmic. The only mistake is letting him get away AGAIN!” She raised a hand to lash out again at the punch bag and Cosmic stepped forward, grabbing her wrist.

“Yes, he was responsible for what happened to your parents, but you are not alone. There are people here who put themselves at risk for you every day, not because of duty but because they care Angel.”

“I know that Cosmic but..” she sighed, letting the tension drain out of her, her shoulders dropping as she looked him in the eye. “I know that, but I still need to see this one through.” He nodded.

“I’ll let Erisi, I mean Sticks, tell you the mission details but we will let you fly, but please, old friend, don’t let your anger blind you. Stay focused. Speaking of which, your technique is flawless but this isn’t what you need, meditate with me.”

Angels eyes flashed, she was going to fly! The two of them took position on the gym floor and began their meditation.

 

“Are you actually insane?” Saywah asked incredulously, “This is the plan you came up with?”

“Yeah, I know it’s pretty out there but it might actually work. Hersy’s idea though.” Leaph answered and looked across the holo projector at Hersy, “Go ahead.”

“It’s really very simple, I’m not sure why we have never done this before. Except of course we didn’t have a Star Destroyer to try with.” He gestured towards the holo, “So, the Vestige will stay docked with the Retaliator and enter hyperspace to Castell. When we drop out, due to the security perimeter around the shipyards, we will have to close some distance before you can launch our attack. So, some of our Imperial defectors will request to dock due to the damage sustained in their last attack…”

“Hold on,” Interrupted Faricho, “If Karktiss is there, why wouldn’t he just shoot it down? Honsou led a mutiny, they’ll suspect a trap.”

“That’s correct, so they will have to try to convince them they have regained control of the ship from Honsou’s forces, and had to flee the battle. The damage to the hull should convince them that some of this is true.” Hersy indicated back to the holo, “As I said, we will be docked, at some point the Imperial crew will signal us and cut their engines then claim an issue which is leaving them drifting. They will then begin boarding the Vestige.”

“Not sure I want Imperials on our ship.” Muttered Omothi.

“They have been vetted and agreed to join New Republic forces,” answered Sticks, “They are not armed and you, Faricho and Hersy will be flying the Vestige.”

Hersy nodded “Yes, I will be piloting the Vestige for the greatest ram of all time. It will be glorious! Once on board, the docking clamps will be released, as I said the Retaliator will not be under engine power so we will fly the Vestige against the docking bays walls and push the Star destroyer in to the dockyards. That will almost instantly take out the majority of their defensive systems. Once we confirm that we are on a collision course, we will fly the Vestige away and jump to hyperspace. With the Vestige clear Remnants fighters will launch from the destroyers hangar and begin their attack.”

“What’s to stop Karktiss just flying away?” Angel demanded.

“The planets gravity well, plus projectors here, here and here protect the shipyards from anything jumping in or away too closely.” Sticks answered indicating the positions on the map, “Which means the Vestige will be sticking close to the Retaliators hull as it makes its escape to get some cover. We will be calling in the Defiance as we launch our fighters but they will still have to get in weapons range once they jump in near those gravity projectors. Any other questions?”

“Pushing a Star Destroyer from its docking bay? What if we get stuck, how do we get the Vestige out?” Omothi asked.

“That area is heavily reinforced to protect against collisions, it should take the strain fine, “answered Larma, “however if it does collapse around the bow you will have to try to blast your way clear.”

Hersy cackled “I am looking forward to this.”

Angel nodded, “This time, Karktiss dies.”

“Shipyard defence systems, probably a couple squadrons of fighters, a few on patrol, Karktiss in that Royal Guard ship…any other defences we know of? Will our fighters be able to last long enough before Defiance arrives?” Faricho asked the group.

“We don’t know what is in the system, intel of remaining Imperial ships is getting sparse. As for fighters..” Leaph grinned, “Green Squadron have been given a crash course in TIE’s, and a couple of the Retaliators pilots have agreed to back us up too.”

Omothi looked surprised, “Remnant flying with TIE support? Try not to shoot the friendlies.”

“Ship ID’s have been loaded in to our targeting system so it won’t let you lock on,” answered Leaph, “Besides we’ll be going straight for the prize, our TIE support will take on the fighter screen.”

“I have also told them to paint some stripes on for visual aid, just in case.” Added Larma

“Let’s finish this Remnant.” Sticks put his hand on the table, the rest followed suit and in unison they all said Remnants unofficial motto.  “Shoot shit, don’t die.”

 

“Good hunting guys.”Jarakin looked out of the bridge window from the Defiance towards the Retaliator, hanging in space just a few hundred clicks away. Once again he was sending off his friends in Remnant and Green Squadron on a mission with very little support, hoping they would survive long enough for the Defiance and its back up Squadrons ferried across from the Liberty.

“Vestige ready” Hersy checked in, the hammerhead corvette hung docked in the bay of the Star Destroyer.

“Remnant Squadron ready, green across the board.”

“Green Squadron ready.”

Gamma Squadron ready.”

“Sir, all mission elements report ready for hyperspace.” The crewman looked up towards Honsou, who in turn looked around at the near empty bridge of the Retaliator. Reduced now to a skeleton crew, he had volunteered as the highest ranking Imperial, no former Imperial, to lead them on one last mission on the Retaliator.

“Sure you can sell this thing long enough to get us close Magno?” He asked

The Senior Lieutenant shrugged, “I can but try Sir.”

Honsou nodded. “Good enough. All hands, this is not a drill. Prepare for hyperspace travel. On my mark, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…..”

The Retaliator flashed in to hyperspace, leaving the Defiance to wait for its call to help.