CHAPTER FOUR
"Two, you've got one on your tail!"
Turman Durra dived his X-wing fighter down, letting the Y-TIE which pursued him zip right past. As dangerous and unpredictable as these Uglies were, their pilots clearly did not know the first thing about starfighter combat.
Not that that fact helped the Wraiths.
"He's headed straight for you, Seven!" Turman shouted into his comlink.
"I see him," Piggy calmly replied as he fired his X-wing's laser cannons, scoring a hit on the Y-TIE's left wing, severing the solar panel from the Y-wing body. Off-balanced, the fighter hurled around until it collided into another Y-TIE, destroying them both. At the same time, Myri Antilles fired at a third fighter's cockpit, incinerating the pilot within.
"That's three down," she said. "Where are the other two?"
"I see them," Turman said. "They're headed for the Liberator."
"Form up behind me," Piggy ordered. "Those Y-TIEs can pack a punch even on larger ships."
"Copy that, Seven," Myri said.
Forming a vague triangle shape with their X-wings, the three Wraiths headed back towards the Liberator, where the Y-TIEs, unaffected by the Star Defender's turbolaser cannons, were preparing to drop their payload.
Upon getting a lock on one of the Uglies, Turman fired his laser cannons, hitting the hybrid fighter in the rear thrusters and destroying it. Alarmed, the remaining Y-TIE flipper around and charged towards the Wraiths, its cockpit turret ablaze.
"Break up!" Piggy cried. The others did so and the Y-TIE zipped right past them. Myri then quickly turned around her fighter and took chase, ignoring Piggy and Turman's protests. Luckily, nothing bad resulted from her maneuver, for she quickly shot off both of the Ugly's wing panels and sent it hurtling into a nearby asteroid field.
"Well, that's those guys taken care of," Turman said. "Shall we help Leader and the others handle the rest?"
"Already handled, Two," Bhindi's voice cut in. "Let's form up and head towards the pirate flagship."
"Sounds like my kind of fun!" Trey said excitedly.
* * *
Baleful eyes coldly regarded the wreckage of Rust Squadron from the bridge of the Rusty Mynock. The rest of the crew could visibly feel the captain's silent fury, but did not dare speak to him. Finally, Scav's yellow eyes fell on Tar Dukk, the Hiitian communications officer.
"Patch me through to the Ruthless Rancor."
Tar Dukk acknowledged the order and brought up the visage of a male Tunroth on a viewscreen situated from underneath the bridge's ceiling.
"Sidor Visora," Scav snarled. "Have the frigates advance towards the Alliance ship and take it out."
"Aye, aye," the Tunroth grunted.
As son as his face had vanished, Ka Var reported, "Sir, seven Alliance fighters are headed right for us."
"Do you expect me to wave a wand to make them go away?" the Feeorin snapped. "Destroy them!"
* * *
Kadar figured that the Lok Revenants must have had the most rudimentary scanning systems because he had managed to weave his way through their small fleet and attach his ship to the side of Scav's flagship without raising any notice.
After making sure the White Rider was stabilized onto the Rusty Mynock's hull, and that his armor was properly secured to endure the vacuum outside, Kadar exited his ship and floated out onto the pirates', scanning for a good place to blast an opening. When he found a stop on top of the Mynock, he brought out a large-barreled cannon strapped to his back and fired.
As soon as the smoke had cleared, Kadar jumped down into the newly-made hole, using magnets in his boots to touch the floor while air rushed out before a security hatch closed. As he straightened up, Kadar looked to see at least seven pirates, four of them Feeorin, staring at him.
"Say," one of the Feeorin said, slowly readying his blaster rifle. "You're that Mando."
"I have no time for pleasantries, Jym," Kadar muttered, raising his cannon. "There are several ways we can do this: I can kill you all now and make my way to the bridge; you can apprehend me and take me to the bridge; or-"
"We could just kill you," said a flail-wielding Houk, grinning savagely. "I think I like that option better."
Kadar shrugged nonchalantly. "Suit yourself."
* * *
"The pirate frigates are advancing towards us," a bridge officer reported to Captain Jorg Sacul. "I'm counting at least fifteen, maybe more."
"We won't be able to repel their attack," Lieutenant Callum said. "We should retreat or-"
"I am not leaving Wraith Squadron behind," Jorg said sharply. "We either fight back or we die."
"Or you can negotiate."
The entire bridge crew turned to see the elongated, sloped head of a Tunroth on the viewport's telescreen. Startled, Jorg strode up to it.
"Who are you and how did you get access to this channel?" he demanded.
The Tunroth smiled mirthlessly. "I have my ways. I am Sidor Visora, lieutenant to Captain Scav and commander of the Ruthless Rancor. If you don't mind, captain, I would like to make a deal."
Jorg glared at him. "I don't make deals with pirates."
"You might reconsider once I'm through speaking," Visora said. "You see, I'm not very much fond of our leader, Scav. In fact, I hate him with a passion, enough that I often fantasize his head being mounted on my wall."
"Where is this going, Visora?" Jorg asked skeptically.
The Tunroth grinned, baring his sharp teeth. "If you help me take out Scav, then we'll let you proceed to do whatever you like in the Odryn system, for we will have deserted it. Deal?"
Jorg stroked his beard. "How do I know you're not up to something?"
"Please, captain. I may be a pirate, but I am certainly not dishonorable. I have no interest whatsoever in Odryn or your dealings with it. I will hold up my end of the bargain."
Jorg sighed as he considered. He glanced at Callum, who, while looking doubtful, merely shrugged.
"All right," the captain finally said. "We have a deal. Lieutenant, recall Wraith Squadron. We wouldn't want to lose them in the crossfire...."
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