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The Path of Dreams	By : Flowerlady Category: Star Wars (All) > General Views: 4278 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own the Star Wars movie series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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~Chapter 24~

Lower Corellian Line of Battle, Mon Calamari

Jaina watched as the molted light of hyperspace stop its swirling and was instantly replaced with the pin-points of bright white stars. It would have been peaceful except for the collection of war ships and the twisted destruction of the shipyards that surrounded the hanging blue and white jewel of Mon Calamari.

Around her the rest of the armada that made up the Corellian Defense Force also winked into existence. She immediately hit the comm.

�Sabers check in.�

She only half listened as the pilots under her command heeded her command.

�Two here and ready.�

�Three.�

�Four is ready.�

As the rest of her squadron responded, she became more distracted by the monstrosity that lay before them among the stars and the smaller destroyers, corvettes and cruisers. She shouldn�t have been able to see the black wedge, but it changed position and turned toward them with the day side of the planet suddenly behind it. It sickened her to even think of the GAG Star Destroyer by its name. Anakin would not have found any honor in it, and knowing what she suspected of the ship�s commander, she knew he would have been more than appalled.

She felt a subtle brush against her senses and realized that it was Zekk as he established the battle meld with her as he came out of hyperspace further down the line. The touch held no emotion other than concern for her safety. They hadn�t spoken outside of official business since the confrontation in the mess hall nearly a week ago. She eventually came to the conclusion that she couldn�t keep going on like this. It wasn�t fair to Zekk, and it wasn�t fair to her. But could she let Zekk go? He had always been there for her.

Can I let Jag go?

She sent back her love to her fianc�, but he didn�t acknowledge it, he was actually shielding her rather strongly. Eventually their battle meld would include the four Jedi involved in the attack, which included Valin on the command deck of the Intrepid and Fondorian Jedi, Jessi Chivel, who was commanding a squadron with the Imperial Second Fleet.

Suddenly, one of her pilots, an arrogant ex-smuggler who flew as Saber Ten, said, �Look at that. Boy, they really are sittin� there ready for the pickin�. The Imp was right.�

�Ten, stow the chatter. Form up on me and wait for orders,� Jaina responded with an edge to her voice. Her reply was eleven comm clicks. Taking a deep breath and trying to find some sense of calm, she tried desperately to shake her feelings of foreboding. She hoped Jag knew what he was doing. The starfighter commanders had been enlightened as to the battle plan right before the last hyperspace jump. Up until then, they had no idea why they had left the Corellian system; they could only assume that they were headed for battle.

She admired Jag�s scheme, for that was really what it was, it wasn�t really complicated and it could be deadly. As long as the GA didn�t get wind of it the same way we got hold of their exact fleet placement, she thought with trepidation. There were spies on both sides after all, which had been the reason no one was told of the specifics of the plan, save for the upper level commanders, until the very last. However, there still were enough people who knew of the plan to let crucial data slip to the wrong people.

Just how Jag came about the intelligence to pin-point exactly where the GA had its fleet placements was beyond her. And actually she wasn�t sure that she wanted to know anyway. Jag�s offensive called for the massive combined forces of the Corellians, Bothans, Hapans and the Imperials to split and come out of hyperspace at strategic points around the planet of Mon Calamari.

The first to arrive would be the Corellians and the token taskforce from the Bothans, which was sent by First Secretary Kre�fey as a show of support and thanks for regaining Bothan Space from the GA. This combined force, under the command of Wedge Antilles, would engage the most dangerous participant of the battle�her brother. Once the Corellians and Bothans engaged and distracted the GAG general and the Mon Calamari home fleet, Admiral Krieg�s Imperial Second Fleet was to jump into system. They then would begin attacking the planetary defenses of the northern pole Golan space defense platform, the two remaining shipyards and engage the rest of the Mon Cal home fleet and the Fifth, which was on the opposite side of the planet than Jacen�s Fleet. Finally, once the battle on these two fronts was fully engaged and the GA completely distracted, the Imperial First Fleet, under the command of Jag, and the accompanying Hapan Fleet, personally under the direction of Royal Regent Prince Isolder, would appear near the southern pole. There the two Fleets would take out the planetary shields by destroying the southern Golan platform and finish off the GA forces by flanking them and boxing them in, essentially trapping them between the combined forces of the Confederacy and the planet. Once the planet�s shields were down, the Imperials would drop their troop transports into the atmosphere and begin the ground, or rather the water, assault of the Mon Calamari and Quarren planet-side forces. Everyone was hopeful this plan would thoroughly defeat the GA, or at least destroy morale when the Imperials take the planet.

It really had a good chance of succeeding. However, it wouldn�t without loss of a lot of life on both sides. She watched the GA ships spew their fighters and the Golan space defense platform, which was stationed above the southern polar cap, begin to fire at the leading edge of the Corellian battle line. Fortunately, they were still out of range, but that wouldn�t be the case for too much longer. Then a massive turboblaster shot came from the Anakin Solo and hit the forward shields of the Revenger. Suddenly, they were all reminded again of why the Anakin Solo was the deadliest Star Destroyer the GA possessed. Again the long range lasers found purchase in the Revenger�s shields and Jaina began to suspect that Wedge was Jacen�s real target. She also knew Wedge Antilles never shied away from a fight, and now would be no different. That was when Jaina realized that, no matter how straightforward or secretive the Grand Admiral�s plan, this battle wouldn�t be won easily.

Suddenly, her father�s voice broke into her sobering thoughts. �Okay, folks. You all know the plan. Let�s mix it up and show �em we mean business.�

She acknowledged the general, who demanded to be in the midst of battle aboard the Millennium Falcon rather than in the relative safety of the Revenger, with a comm click. After switching over to her squadron frequency, she simply commanded, �Let�s go. Stay in formation until we engage. Then break into flights and wing pairs and hit �em with everything you�ve got.�

~~~

Command Salon, Anakin Solo

Standing near the railing of the command deck, Darth Troddeln watched as his cannons blasted his intended recipient. He smiled as he watched the real time magnification of the forward shields of the much smaller Corellian Dreadnaught flicker as the energy was spent against them. So far the Revenger hadn�t been much of a factor in the battle. The Sith Lord had previously decided to take Wedge Antilles out of the fight for good if he could. However, as with Jagged Fel, he had a back up plan if need be.

He straightened and looked out the massive viewports. The flashes of laser fire from the capital ships and explosions of fighters were in stark contrast to the star studded beauty of the space around the battle. However, Troddeln didn�t focus too much on that beauty; he had a battle to win.

When the Anakin fired its shorter range, traditional turboblasters into the Revenger, Troddeln moved away from the forward rail to speak to the weapons officer at his station on the port side of the platform. �Colonel, I want the long range torboblasters to continually fire on the lead Corellian Deadnaught Revenger. Is that clear?�

The human Marine colonel, who was as old as Han Solo and who had at one point served under Wedge Antilles�s command, stood at his full height, which put him slightly taller than Troddeln. It wasn�t lost on Troddeln, despite the colonel having to look up from the pit. With a clenched jaw and an unusual show of defiance that Troddeln would take care up later, the gunnery commander countered, �Sir, we are in range of the smaller stuff now. I think we should discontinue the bombardment with the LRs and fire the standard blasters. We are close enough now that the short range weapons would be more than enough to cripple the ship.�

The veteran actually took a step back when Troddeln narrowed his eyes and began to speak, his voice taking on a dangerous edge. �I repeat, Colonel Keys, I want the Revenger to be under continual long range fire no matter how close we are. I don�t want the Revenger �crippled�; I want it destroyed. Is that clear, Sir?�

The older man�s show of defiance was suddenly replaced with nervousness and he responded, �Yes, Sir, perfectly clear.�

He then returned back to the tactical display. The lights on the bridge dimmed as the long range blasters began again spewing their deadly fire into the enemy flagship. Troddeln smiled as he watched the Revenger�s shields become weaker with each and every blast. The closer the ship came, the quicker the destruction. Then the Anakin was suddenly hit with return fire from the Dreadnaught. Oh, Antilles, you are way out of your league if you think you can take me on.

Suddenly, sensing the approach of a security sergeant, he turned from the display hologram to give his attention to the GAG sergeant. �General Solo, Sir, the Jedi Masters are in quarters with guards placed outside their door as you ordered.�

Troddeln acknowledged the young man with a nod. �Thank you, Sergeant. Return to your duty station and await orders.�

With a quick salute and a �Yes, Sir!� the black armored and helmeted sergeant was on his way out of the command salon.

�You know, that would never work for you.� Troddeln turned to Lon Shevu, who spoke with a slight snigger to his voice, as he moved closer to Troddeln. �You�d be free within ten seconds. So, what makes you think that they are likely to stay where you�ve put �em.�

Troddeln grinned at the lieutenant colonel, who in all intents and purposes was the general�s second in command, �Your assessment is correct. And I don�t expect my uncle and aunt to stay in their quarters, but I hope they realize that it is for their own safety and remain there.� Then to punctuate his point, the lights dimmed again as the massive long range turboblasters fired into the enemy ship. The long range blasters were innovative and the Anakin Solo was the only GA ship with them, the other ship with the turboblasters was Intrepid, which was also of the Imperial II-class. However, the blasters required massive energy to be re-routed to them, which required unneeded systems to be shut down. In some areas of the ship this included life-support systems.

Troddeln turned back to his display and assessed the situation. The Corellian Defense Fleet was coming at the GAG taskforce and the Mon Cal Fleet stationed on this side of the planet quickly. Already fighter squadrons were engaging in a multitude of furballs and capital ships on both sides was beginning to show signs of battle.

He could feel the presences of other Force-wielders out there among the fighters. He didn�t open any bonds, but he knew the two presences well enough to recognize his sister and her fianc�. He also could sense his father out there among the enemy coming at him, but he didn�t sense his mother. So, the rumor was true, she gave up her position in the military to devote more time to raising and training his daughter. Immediately, he was filled with anger.

He rarely thought about his parents, his sister or his daughter, but when he did it was with anger and hatred. He swallowed hard; he had to let the emotions flow through him and turned them into power. Emotion allowed for the access to the Dark Side, but true raw negative emotion only blinded the wielder. The key was to control one�s emotions and use them as a conduit to the Dark Side, in which a Sith could tap into untold power and with it clarity.

Once he had his emotions under his usual tight control again, Lord Troddeln considered what he knew of the Grand Admiral�s scheme, of which he frankly knew very little. He only knew that the Corellians and Imperials were planning to strike, and he knew the relative time of that attack, which for his counter plans to work was the most important aspect.

He asked Shevu, �Any word from Cheb? I requested him to send reinforcements.�

Shevu shook his head. �You know the Admiral, he will take his time.�

�And while he�s taking his time, he will be the one held accountable if his caution is the reason he loses his home.� Troddeln knew that the Mon Calamari admiral didn�t like that Jacen was actually the one in charge of the defenses and terrorist investigation of Mon Cal.

Suddenly, the Bith lieutenant at the comm station drew his and Lon�s attention. �General Solo, Admiral Cheb has enemy ships exiting hyperspace near the northern pole. He sends his regrets that he will be unable to send you reinforcements.� Then he went on to give Troddeln the exact vector of reversion and relayed that information to his datapad.

�ID those ships, Lieutenant,� Troddeln ordered.

A moment later, though the general wasn�t surprised that they were Imperials, the Bith announced, �According to the Mon Mothma, the ships belong to the Imperial Second Fleet, Sir.�

�Not the First?� Troddeln was suddenly concerned; now that did surprise him. What the kriff was Fel up to? He would never sit out a battle this important, despite his faith in Krieg.

�Major Ta�sol,� Lon immediately turned and called to one of the officers in charge of the tactical display.

�Yes, Sir,� the middle aged woman turned from her computer and responded.

Troddeln moved to stand before the massive multi-view display, but this time he wasn�t interested in what the Anakin�s turboblasters were doing to the Revenger. He needed to see the other front of this battle.

Before he had the chance, Lon ordered, �Pull up data from the Mon Mothma and the North Pole Golan platform; we have to see that side of the planet.�

She nodded and silently touched several buttons on her console. Soon part of the display showed the battle that was raging on the other side of the planet. Shipyard Number 1 had already suffered damage and its defense mechanism was knocked out.

The lights dimmed again and the large Imperial II Star Destroyer unloaded another salvo into the Revenger, and Lon looked up at Troddeln. He could see the apprehension in colonel�s eyes. �This isn�t good.�

The Sith Lord looked back at the status display. Suddenly, two more of his ships was showing catastrophic damage and began to launch their escape pods. Knowing it was time to call in his skifter, he moved to the comm station and said, �Lieutenant, contact Admiral Makin of the Third Fleet.�

The Bith nodded and immediately turned back to his comm station. Within moments a hologram of the Mon Calamari Third Fleet�s commander, Admiral Makin, appeared above the holoplate at the command chair. Troddeln didn�t waste time with preamble, saying, �Admiral, I�m sending the reversion coordinates now.�

�Thank you, General Solo.� The middle aged Mon Calamari was one of Jacen Solo�s biggest supporters. �However, I�m afraid I do not have my entire fleet with me.�

�What do you mean?� Troddeln leaned closer and peered into the cam.

Makin wasn�t easily intimidated, and Troddeln knew Mon Cal expressions well enough to read that the Admiral wasn�t happy with the situation either. �General, Admiral Darklighter demanded that part of my forces stay in the Kashyyyk system to ensure the Wookiees don�t join the Insurgents.� When the Mon Cal went on, his dislike of the Supreme Commander was evident in his voice, �I was firmly reminded that I take my orders from him, not from you.�

Troddeln scowled and replied, �Just get here as soon as��

�General,� the sound of Ta�sol concerned voice from the pit cut him off, �the Imperial First Fleet and the Hapan Royal Navy have just entered the battle.�

Troddeln turned back to the holocomm but the image was gone. The Bith looked up at his commander and said, �He told me to tell you that he�s on his way.�

The Anakin lurched a little as an enemy laser punched through the deliberately weaker shields somewhere aft, and Troddeln realized that the blast came from the Anakin�s sister ship, the Imperial flagship Intrepid. Step-sister is more like it.

�Divert all unnecessary energy to the rear shields,� Troddeln commanded and then he turned to the weapons officer. With a menacing glower, he demanded, �Colonel Keys, I want the Revenger destroyed! Now!�

The old colonel stared up at the general and swallowed. His voice was barely audible as he responded, �Yes, Sir.�

~~~

Command Deck, Corellian Flagship, Revenger

Wedge watched out the viewport as the battle raged around him. The Corellian Forces had only suffered moderate damage. He had received word that Admiral Krieg had engaged the combined forces of Mon Calamari and the GA Fifth Fleets. So far the reports were good. Krieg�s forces were causing a great deal of damage, but then the young Bastion native was as deadly in battle as an angry Tuskin Raider was.

�Admiral,� Wedge turned and was nearly knocked off his feet as another bloody blast from the Anakin Solo hit the Revenger, causing the alarm to sound again. He really was beginning to hate that thing as much as the long range guns of the Anakin Solo.

Wincing at the high-pitched noise, he called out to no one in particular, �For Force sake, kill that vapin� racket.� Someone heeded his irritated request, and soon the bridge was again free of the ear-splitting noise. It was until another blast came from the enemy ship. This time Wedge took matters into his own hands, pulling his side arm, he aimed at the speaker and fired. The resulting sizzle of sparks suddenly was the only sound for several seconds, as the bridge crew was shocked speechless.

Turning back to the tactical officer and ignoring everyone else, he inquired, �Yes, Major?�

The young major swallowed and then said, �Admiral, the First Fleet is reverting, Sir.�

Wedge nodded. As he turned to the comm officer, he said, �Get me Admiral Fel immediately.�

�Yes, Sir.� The young female ensign then set to the task.

As Wedge waited for the young woman to get a call through to his nephew, the ship lurched again, but this time the lights dimmed and didn�t come back up to full. Wedge saw the fear in the young woman�s grey eyes as she looked back up at him, and he swallowed. However, she showed none of her dread in her voice as she very professionally announced, �Here he is, Sir.�

He tried to give her reassuring smile, but, despite his best efforts, failed. Giving up the effort, he turned his attention to the hologram of his sister�s son. He said, the relief he felt flooding his voice, �You have no idea how happy I am to see you.�

Jag flashed him one of his trademark half smiles and inquired, �I see that you are having some trouble.�

Wedge actually sniggered, �You could say that. Are you close enough to that Vader wannabe to give him something to think about other than the Revenger?�

Jag nodded and smiled. �Already on it, Admiral.�

�Good.� Wedge responded, but before he could say anything else the Revenger took another blast. Wedge was knocked completely off his feet as the ship violently bucked and the bridge power was completely lost, including gravity. Wedge floated off the decking, but grabbed onto the comm station and pulled himself back to his feet. As the emergency lights came up, Wedge looked around and saw many others of the bridge staff floating toward the ceiling.

Over the din of the electrical hissing of equipment that suffered from massive power surges, he heard the shaky voice of the strapped in comm officer. �Admiral, are you all right?�

He looked at her and nodded. Then he made his way over to the status display. The shields were down by seventy-five present and they had suffered several hull breaches somewhere in the lower decks. Suddenly, Wedge Antilles realized this would be his last battle.

Looking out the viewport, he took a deep breath and let his mind wonder to thoughts of his family. He prayed that Iella would survive and be strong. He loved her more than anything and hoped that someday he would see her again. He thought of his daughters. He remembered their turbulent childhoods and, with regret he remembered how much of his little girls� lives he had missed. Myri, who was so much like her mother, had always been his little baby; although, he�d never tell her that. She was making him proud as an intelligence officer, and breaking as many hearts as he had in his younger days. Syal, who was the daughter so much like him, was truly happy and he wished her all the joy in the galaxy. He thought of his son-in-law who he truly had no problem embracing as a son. Syal was in amazingly good hands with her choice as a husband; he could not have chosen better. His mind then turned to Valin�s mother, the woman who was like a sister to him, Mirax Terrick Horn. He missed her and Corran dearly, he had hoped that after all this they could finally become a family again, maybe share some grandkids. He smiled as he considered what Booster Terrik would think about that. He had become like a father to a young Wedge when his family was killed. Finally, he thought of his reconnection with his long lost sister, Syal Fel, and her family, wishing that they could have had more time to spend on mending their broken relationship.

Suddenly, as another blast hit the Revenger,< /i>Wedge Antilles, who had been lauded as a galactic hero for most of his adult life, realized that what really mattered in life was his family.

The Revenger, finally losing its shields, exploded when the last and final blast from the Anakin Solo hit the transparasteel of the command salon.

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The Path of Dreams