Star Wars_ Episode VI_ Return of the Jedi - James Kahn [61]
And the shield barricaded the Alliance in front. They had nowhere to go.
Ackbar spoke desperately into the comlink. “It’s a trap. Prepare for attack.”
An anonymous fighter pilot’s voice came back over the radio. “Fighters coming in! Here we go!”
The attack began. The battle was joined.
TIE fighters, first—they were much faster than the bulky Imperial cruisers, so they were the first to make contact with the Rebel invaders. Savage dogfights ensued, and soon the black sky was aglow with ruby explosions.
An aide approached Ackbar. “We’ve added power to the forward shield, Admiral.”
“Good. Double power on the main battery, and—”
Suddenly the Star Cruiser was rocked by thermonuclear fireworks outside the observation window.
“Gold Wing is hit hard!” another officer shouted, stumbling up to the bridge.
“Give them cover!” Ackbar ordered. “We must have time!” He spoke again into the comlink, as yet another detonation rumbled the frigate. “All ships, stand your position. Wait for my command to return!”
It was far too late for Lando and his attack squadrons to heed that order, though. They were already way ahead of the pack, heading straight for the oncoming Imperial fleet.
Wedge Antilles, Luke’s old buddy from the first campaign, led the X-wings that accompanied the Falcon. As they drew near the Imperial defenders, his voice came over the comlink, calm and experienced. “Lock X-foils in attack positions.”
The wings split like dragonfly gossamers, poised for increased maneuvering and power.
“All wings report in,” said Lando.
“Red Leader standing by,” Wedge replied.
“Green Leader standing by.”
“Blue Leader standing by.”
“Gray Leader—”
This last transmission was interrupted by a display of pyrotechnics that completely disintegrated Gray Wing.
“Here they come,” Wedge commented.
“Accelerate to attack speed,” Lando ordered. “Draw fire away from our cruisers as long as possible.”
“Copy, Gold Leader,” Wedge responded. “We’re moving to point three across the axis—”
“Two of them coming in at twenty degrees—” someone advised.
“I see them,” noted Wedge. “Cut left, I’ll take the leader.”
“Watch yourself, Wedge, three from above.”
“Yeah, I—”
“I’m on it, Red Leader.”
“There’s too many of them—”
“You’re taking a lot of fire, back off—”
“Red Four, watch out!”
“I’m hit!”
The X-wing spun, sparking, across the starfield, out of power, into the void.
“You’ve picked one up, watch it!” Red Six yelled at Wedge.
“My scope’s negative, where is he?”
“Red Six, a squadron of fighters has broken through—”
“They’re heading for the Medical Frigate! After them!”
“Go ahead,” Lando agreed. “I’m going in. There’re four marks at point three five. Cover me!”
“Right behind you. Gold Leader. Red Two, Red Three, pull in—”
“Hang on, back there.”
“Close up formations, Blue Group.”
“Good shooting, Red Two.”
“Not bad,” said Lando. “I’ll take out the other three …”
Calrissian steered the Falcon into the complete flip, as his crew fired at the Imperial fighters from the belly guns. Two were direct hits, the third a glancing blow that caused the TIE fighter to tumble into another of its own squads. The heavens were absolutely thick with them, but the Falcon was faster by half than anything else that flew.
Within a matter of minutes, the battlefield was a diffuse red glow, spotted with puffs of smoke, blazing fireballs, whirling spark showers, spinning debris, rumbling implosions, shafts of light, tumbling machinery, space-frozen corpses, wells of blackness, electron storms.
It was a grim and dazzling spectacle. And only beginning.
Nien Nunb made a guttural aside to Lando.
“You’re right,” the pilot frowned. “Only their fighters are attacking. What are those Star Destroyers waiting for?” Looked like the Emperor was trying to get the Rebels to buy some real estate he wasn’t intending to sell.
“Dzhng