Star Wars_ X-Wing 07_ Solo Command - Aaron Allston [133]
“We’re, uh, kicking the things to pieces with our boots, Warlord. Between the primary and redundant systems, we’re restoring the system to functionality. But when we jump, we’ll need to make it a careful one; there won’t be any backup systems in case of component failure.”
“Understood. How long?”
“Pessimistically, an hour. Optimistically, somewhat less. I don’t know how much less.”
“As much less as possible, if you please. Out.” The image faded.
Zsinj turned to Melvar. “Very clever. I wish our analysts had anticipated such an approach to sabotage. We need thinkers like her in my organization, General.”
“Are we not going to kill her, then?”
“I said thinkers like her. But loyal ones. Her fate will serve to reinforce that loyalty.”
The starfighters of Solo’s fleet finished forming up, then broke off by task.
Wedge’s task force included four X-wing squadrons, one A-wing, and the Wraiths. They turned toward Selaggis Six and leaped forward, drifting a little out from the path taken by Zsinj’s group, their intent to pass it by and reach the planet first. Other groups of starfighters would head straight for the Star Destroyers at the rear of the formation, hoping to get some early licks in, while still others remained on station with Solo’s fleet as a defensive screen.
“Group, this is Leader. When we reach the ring, we’ll break by squads to our assigned task. Rogue and Wraith Squadrons will head counter-spinward and spread out the width of the ring for reconnaissance. Corsair and High Flight Squadrons will do the same spin ward. Polearm and Shadow Squadrons will break by wingpairs and do recon runs on the moons. First pilot to spot Iron Fist gets an extra three-day leave.”
Iron Fist’s communications officer announced, “Chains of Justice reports starfighter launch and deployment from Mon Remonda. X-wings incoming. Y-wings remaining behind as a screen.”
Zsinj smiled. “Launch all our squadrons, except the One Eighty-first and the experimentals.” He turned to Melvar. “While they send their fastest fighters looking for us, we can concentrate ours on them. Mon Remonda is in for the beating she deserves.”
• • •
“Incoming starfighter squadrons from Selaggis Six,” the sensor operator said.
Solo nodded. “Bring the Y-wings up front. Let them think that’s all we have. Array the rest behind Mon Remonda.” He had four squadrons of Y-wings, two each from Mon Karren and Mon Delindo, plus two more Y-wing squadrons and a Cloakshape squad off the Battle Dog.
The Y-wings were good at hammering large targets, and rugged enough to sustain a lot of damage from enemy starfighters. But they weren’t fast or nimble enough to keep TIE fighters from bypassing them and hitting a target like Mon Remonda.
However, the last ship in Solo’s formation, the Imperial Star Destroyer Skyhook, after its capture from the Empire, never had its complement of Imperial fighters replaced by the New Republic’s ubiquitous Y-wings. Instead, it retained its original complement of six TIE fighter squadrons, crewed mostly by former Imperial pilots who’d joined the Alliance over the years.
The approaching force, nine squadrons of TIE fighters and interceptors, came on in a spread pattern toward Mon Remonda, ignoring the other ships in Solo’s group. Several kilometers out from Mon Remonda, as they reached maximum firing range from the Y-wing squadrons, they opened up with a salvo of lasers, then broke around the Y-wing force in four groups, leaving the slower New Republic starfighters to turn awkwardly in their wake.
“Open mass fire,” Solo said. “Forward guns only. Prepare to drop them at my command. Bring up the TIEs.”
The cruiser’s forward turbolaser batteries and ion cannons flashed into life, and Solo could feel vibrations in the heels of his boots as wave after wave of destructive energy poured out toward the enemy. On his sensor board, the cluster of TIEs waiting to Mon Remonda’s stern, colored blue to indicate their friendly status, suddenly leaped into motion, half moving up over the cruiser, half under her hull.
Off the cruiser’s bow,