CHAPTER SEVEN
"You better take good care of this baby," said Commander Ivan of the 501st Legion as he patted the leg of the AT-AT walker that Obtrexta Fleet had just transported to Rhen Var. "She's seen a lot of action over the years."
"I never knew you guys personified these things," Major Sakul said. "Especially since they all look the same."
The stormtrooper commander chuckled. "Well, Betsy here has gotten enough scars to be distinguished from the rest."
Standing beside Sakul, Ulen Valsar let out a snort. "'Betsy?'"
Ivan nodded. "A trooper from Commander Krotan's squad came up with it. It kind of just tolls off the tongue, doesn't it?"
"As long as she can get the job done," Sakul said. Looking up towards Rhen Var's cloudy sky, he then added, "How's the battle up there going?"
"No idea," Ivan said, looking in the same direction. "We mowed down enough of the blockade to get us here, but we have no idea how everyone is holding up. I hope they're doing fine."
"We all do, commander," Sakul murmured. "We always do."
* * *
"Rogue Six! You've got a Glory on your tail!"
Jak Denon gritted his teeth as he banked his X-wing starfighter to the left, narrowly avoiding a Glorian starfighter that was moving at projectile-like speed. He then squeezed his firing controls, scoring a mark on the fighter's right thruster, which sent it spiraling out of control, resulting a fiery demise.
One down, a thousand more to go, Jak thought as he piloted his X-wing towards the Jan Dodonna, which was being pounded by enemy fire. On his right, he saw his wingmate, Rogue Seven, fly up to him.
"Sheesh, at least give me time to catch up with you," Seph Kisto said through his intercom. "You'd be toast without me."
"I can't help it if these Glorians are so willing to die just to kill me," Jak snapped. "These guys are the craziest pilots I've ever seen!"
"That sums up my view on Rebel pilots back in the day," muttered a gravelly voice as a flight of TIE Defenders flew up to Jak's left. "We always thought you were told to suicide yourselves."
"Well, I can't comment on that," Jak replied. "What do you suppose we do about these Glories there?"
There was a hint of slyness in the TIE pilot's voice as he said, "I have just the right tactic in mind. Form up, Shadow Squadron."
As Jak watched the TIE Defenders fly off towards the Strident-class Star Defender, he heard his wingmate say, "What about us, Rogue Leader?"
"Just follow their lead, guys," Jaina Solo said. "Just follow their lead."
* * *
"Sir, our scanners are picking up enemy signatures."
Sitting comfortably in his command chair, General Dalax stirred. He stared at the Glorian officer who had delivered this information, his green eyes blazing.
"Do they have the Duinuogwuin with them?" he asked.
"Negative, sir," the female officer replied. "Only a group of AAC-1 hovertanks, flanked by Alliance soldiers."
This did nothing to relax Dalax. "Perhaps they are trying to fool us. Are you sure that is all the scanners are picking up?"
"Not quite," said another officer. "I'm detecting Saber-class tanks, as well as AT-APs."
Dalax got up from his seat. "I thought those vehicles were exclusive to the Imperial Remnant," he muttered.
"Perhaps they have come to assist the Alliance?"
The general moved past the two officers and headed out of the ancient fortress which served as his forces' headquarters, fuming as he went. As he stepped out into the harbor, he froze.
Despite the falling snow, he could see it as clear as day. After years of studying the enemy's vehicles and arsenal, there was no mistaking its build and size.
The enemy had an AT-AT. The Galactic Alliance and Imperial Remnant were working together.
Good thing Versanus was gotten rid of, Dalax thought bitterly. He fouled everything up.
To his subordinates, he bellowed, "Send out all of our forces! All of them! Every single one!"
His voice boomed throughout the harbor, sounding over the howling wind. His eyes burned with fury, his heart pounding with excitement. He would see the enemy fall today. He was sure of it.
The Glorian Empire would conquer Rhen Var and move on out to Felucia and Draukyze. He was sure of it.
The Reunification would succeed. He was sure of it.
* * *
"We've lost our shields!" a deck officer cried from the Jan Dodonna's bridge. "We're taking heavy fire!"
Admiral Chaar gritted his teeth as he gripped the front railing of the upper deck as the Star Defender shuddered from the Glorians' assault. To a Mon Calamari officer, he said, "Can we call up any more squadrons?"
"Negative, sir," the officer replied. "Rogue and Shadow Squadrons are trying to fight off the Glorians, but to no avail. Black Squadron is all but wiped out, and Gray Squadron-"
The officer yelped as his monitor went up in flames, a result of another suicide fighter.
"Blast," Chaar muttered. He glanced at Captain Zennefra, who was gazing out the viewport, watching their fleet fall apart.
Quietly, he said, "We've lost our communications, haven't we?"
The Elomin captain simply nodded.
Chaar sighed. "Then I suppose this is our last battle."
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