Star Wars_ X-Wing 09_ Starfighters of Adumar - Aaron Allston [102]
It would be another desperately needed edge for his people. If only they would survive long enough to employ it.
In five minutes, the aerial situation had changed, though not in unexpected ways.
Cartann’s fleet of Meteors and most of her Scythes had been caught on the ground and largely destroyed—the larger craft, requiring numerous crewmen, were not in a position to lift off by the time the united Adumari craft roared across the sky above them. Even at this distance, Wedge could see the columns of flame that marked where Cartann Bladedrome and Giltella Air Base had been. The united Adumari force’s Meteors were doing substantial damage in the air, their lasers actually optimized to shoot down incoming missiles and used only when the opportunity arose to fire upon enemy fighters.
But that was almost the only good news. As the leading edge of the engagement zone began to drift over the western edges of Cartann, attrition was beginning to swing the tide of battle in Cartann’s favor. Despite the fact that Wedge’s tactics seemed to be keeping the united Adumari force focused, despite the fact that Adumari pilots and gunners were outfighting their enemies, the greatly superior numbers of Cartann defenders were taking their toll. Squadrons and partial squadrons were still lifting off from the city, doubtless composed of retired pilots and the aircraft they personally owned, and the Adumari force was growing low on fuel, owing to the hundreds of kilometers they’d had to cross before firing their first shots. Too, the three remaining TIE Interceptors were racking up a gruesome kill score, and had adjusted their strategy to head off the sort of mass-fire tactics Red Flight had employed against them. Any formation moving against them caused them to flash off at a new and unpredictable angle, making the TIEs impossible for the Blades to target and hit. It wouldn’t be too much longer before the attrition from the TIEs made the Adumari force too weak to have any chance at victory.
A two-seater Blade-30, the canopy over its rear gunnery position shattered and its fuselage patched from numerous previous military engagements, rose to join Red Flight. The gunner wore New Republic orange and gestured at Wedge, a thumbs-up.
“Welcoming Blastpike Ten to Red Flight,” Wedge said. “Pilot, be ready to fly low and evasive. We’re entering Cartann.”
“Understood, Red Flight.”
The four Blades broke away from the engagement zone and headed east over Cartann City … and the sky lit up like a celebration for them, as countless ground laser batteries unloaded their energy into the sky. Wedge and his pilots dove almost to rooftop level to give the enemy gunners less time to spot and track them. “Red Leader to Holdout.”
“Holdout here.”
“We’re inbound.” A bank of lasers cut in just to starboard of Wedge’s Blade. He felt heat from the flash of light, then his Blade rocked as the minor shock wave from expansion of superheated air hit him. The shock wave nearly slid him into Blastpike Ten, flying to his port; he corrected hastily.
“I’ll transmit your destination.” A moment later, a map of a portion of central Cartann City appeared on Wedge’s main display. He gave it a quick look. Their destination, marked by a blinking X, was only a block from the perator’s palace. He whistled.
Before he could comment, Cheriss continued, “The area is very heavily defended. You can see why. And we need you to do something. To arrive at a particular time … and shoot something.”
“Happy to oblige, Holdout.” Red Flight flashed over a street; below, he could see a standard repulsorlift transport, this one with a small laser battery permanently mounted in the bed. The operator pointed up at him but had no time to fire before Red Flight was safely over the rooftop. Wedge glanced at his main board; the map graphic now included a countdown.
The permanent and mobile laser batteries were becoming more numerous, and were better-advised of Red Flight