Date: Thu, 11 Jan 1996 23:49:20 +0000 (GMT)
From: Colin Ford <Phoenix@chdpf.demon.co.uk>
Subject: Fan Fiction Liberator Ten
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Liberator Ten.

Wedge Antillies was sat in the place he loved the best, in 
his old x-wing with almost all of the whole of Rouge Squadron 
around him. Although he had been promoted to general, it was his 
(and his rank's) prerogative to serve a little time commanding in the 
field.
Wedge preferred it out here. Rather than the staff 
meetings aboard ship, he would take his squadrons out of the 
bureaucracy and race amongst the stars. It was a feeling of freedom 
he always wanted to enjoy.
He had been out at the front line for the last six months 
parrying small probing attacks from an Admiral Thees on the 
Imperial side. Wedge had never seen his opponent face to face, but 
Thees could only be described as a slippery character. Not brilliant 
but competent enough to hold back an equal force and not leave 
any holes in his armour that Wedge could take advantage of.
His small ship turned and rouge squadron turn with him. 
His small fleet came into view. It consisted of a few cruisers and 
their support which was ample to hold off a typical Imperial 
Assault force until reinforcements arrived.
As his smaller ship turned a larger fleet came into view. 
This was Admiral Ackbar's fleet. It had flown straight out from 
Couruscant in an attempt to hold off  and advance that Thees had 
thrown in this direction. Wedge hadn't been briefed properly yet 
but he'd heard that yet another Missing Imperial Leader had come 
out hiding and started to rip things up again. Wedge hadn't heard 
who this character was, but he was sure Ackbar would brief him 
when he got the chance.
"General Antillies. I've got a priority communication from 
the Defiance." Crackled his comm.
"Patch it through." He ordered, "Antillies here!"
"General. Ackbar here." Came the Calamari Admiral's 
voice, "I have a quick summary of our situation. Thees is heading 
in this direction ETA three and a half  hours. As you know general, 
if we can pull him into our trap here we've got him. However there 
is an unknown factor."
Wedge grimaced, if there was one thing more frightening 
than an engagement, it was the unknown. He discovered these 
unknown factors before and most seemed to be very unpleasant.
"An individual calling himself Grand Inquisitor Trake has 
taken the Morris Sector. His forces are unknown and if he decides 
to aid Thees then we may be badly outgunned."
"How long did it take for Trake to take Morris ?" Asked 
Wedge.
"It only took him one to two days." Said Ackbar, "and I 
don't really know how to handle him if he turns up."
"Well, personally I think that, contingencies should be 
made." Wedge looked at his fleet. He felt woefully inadequate, 
something was going to be needed to handle this problem.
"I agree. " came the Admiral's voice. "I want you to target 
any indictor cruisers so that an escape route can be used. That's the 
only to be used as a last resort and only if this Trake intervenes."
"I understand Admiral." Replied Wedge.
"General, This is the first time we have been able to hit at 
Thees. My observations of  his character shows a slight tendency of 
claustrophobia."
"Sir ?" Wedge couldn't see where he was going with that 
line of thought.
"We make him feel trapped, he'll panic."
"I see, a show of strength or a nasty supprise will throw 
him. Very Well Admiral, We'll be ready."
"General, One final point. If  Thees has reinforcements, 
then we pull out using the emergency plan. Good Luck General. 
Ackbar Out !"
"Nest from Rogue Leader !" Wedge called into his comm.
"Sir ! ", came the voice of Executive officer Dillan.
"Dillan, I have some order updates for you. " announced 
Wedge, "and I'll be in my X-wing on the landing bay if there are 
any problems."
"Yes Sir !" replied Dillan. " At once."
Trust Dillian, wedge smiled. Dillan was second in 
command of this small fleet and he was a much better with capital 
ships than Wedge but he still was regarded as inexperienced by his 
peers.
His peers had not taken into account that the son of a 
defected imperial Admiral, might not be the spoilt brat he was 
reputed to be.  Wedge had taken a chance and had assigned him to 
his staff and discovered that the spoilt brat was nowhere in sight 
and instead here was a young man who ate, drank and slept 
everything his father had taught him.
Wedge's Xwing slipped into the landing bay and put 
down softly on the decks. His R2 unit warbled a system report and 
Wedge nodded to it and he got out.
After a couple of moments, the rest of rouge squad were 
around him. 
"Nice and Tight people. " he complemented, " but I think 
that you a get some rest for a couple of hours. There's something 
brewing. Be back here in two hours. Dismissed."
The others snaped to attention and fell out and wedge 
returned to his stateroom to change and then headed to the bridge.
"Sir, I thought you'd be come up here. " said Dillan, 
snapping to attention.
"At ease commander, " ordered Wedge, "I want to go over 
these instructions with you."
"Yes, I got the transcript from Ackbar. " replied Dillan, 
"it's not like the Admiral to run from a fight. "
"Dillan, " started Wedge, "You of all people should know 
why. Your father said it the most."
"Never fight an opponent in the dark, without the light of 
knowledge. Yes, very melodramatic, Very my father !" sighed 
Dillan.
Wedge walked up to the forward viewport and looked over 
to Ackbar's fleet. A though occured to him. 
"Dillan, Can we work on the assumption that Trake's 
coming for a moment? "
"Yes Sir. "
"Navigation, plot me entry points direct from the Morris 
Sector please." 
The veiwport lit up the a small area not far behind Ackar's 
fleet. 
"Oh Frak. " breathed Dillan, "Ackbar won't stand a 
chance. Recommend we cover ..."
"Yes, Dillian, your digression of course."
"Communications, relay to Admiral Ackbar that we are 
going to cover his rear." Ordered wedge. "Helm Ahead full. Go to 
battle alert. "
"Now ? " said Dillan.
"I think that this is going to start earlier than ... " Wedge 
couldn't finish. 
With a Flash of psudoemotion, a large number of ships 
fell out of  hyperspace at what could be considered point blank 
range and opened into Akbar's fleet. They were all Imperial. 
"Identify all ships.", ordered Wedge.
"Over forty capital ships sir." A voice came from the 
Sensor's station.   "One Super Class,  Ten Imperial Class, Five 
Victory Class, Ten Indictor Cruisers and the rest are small carrick 
cruisers."
"Flank Speed, Launch all fighters and Target only the 
Indictor Cruisers. They are our targets. Ackbar should be able to 
keep the rest of the fleet off our back, if we can save his hide now."
In the distance, Wedge could see the small flickers of light 
begin to signal the demise of small craft, as the battle started.

Inquisitor Trake stood on the Command Deck looking 
directly at the rear end of Ackbar's fleet and smiled to himself. 
Schedik turned to look at him in disbelief. 
"You got it right at least, but Ackbar even when 
supprised, can still be unpredictable and dangerous." Commented 
Schedik.
"I don't underestimate an opponent Schedik, but we 
should be able to catch him when Thees gets here."
"If, Master. He could have been hoping that you would 
weaken Ackbar until he could take both him and you."
Trake turned and looked straight at Schedick. He smiled
"I never underestimate any opponent Schdick. I knew 
commander Thees and He will not have changed his spots. Not 
after I demonstrated my abilities."
"Sir !" Captain Jamiel's voice sounded from behind them. 
Trake turned round and stared straight at him. "Report 
Captain."
"There is a smaller fleet approaching, bearing 45. They 
have launched fighters and are bearing directly down on us. They 
will have range in a couple of minutes."
"Your estimate of Ackbar seems quite correct Schedik. I 
want..." started Trake but was interrupted by the Indictor cruiser 
not far from the bridge, Exploding in a spectacular Fireball.
"Launch all fighters, Protect those Indictor's." called 
Trake,
"They won't stay here unless we can hold them."

Dillan Smiled fiercely. He knew that his opponents 
weren't expecting that. He barked out orders to the crew who lined 
up to the next Indictor and targeted it with torpedoes. He'd drilled 
the crew to drop and raise the shields quickly enough to launch a 
full spread and still stay protected.
Wedge was already running for the Landing bay. He 
practically leaped into the cockpit and turned the ship out into the 
fray. Rogue Squadron had already launched and the enemy had 
only just started to launch it's own fighters. Wedge knew that his 
fleet had to buy Ackbar time to get organised and get away from 
here. 
He saw another couple of indictor cruisers go up, one due 
to fighters, the other Dillan's torpedoes. Ackbar's fleet had turned 
to face the Imperial fleet and started to take on the larger vessels. 
Another Indictor vaporised as another squadron hit it.
Wedge selected the Indictor that Rouge were attacking 
and powered off in that direction. He saw that it was the first 
indictor where Tie fighters had managed to reach to defend.
"Janson, What's your status ?" called Wedge.
"We've lost Brittas to those tie's, The Indictor's shields 
are still up. If we're not careful we're going to get swarmed."
Wedge Grimaced, not a good situation, outnumbered three 
to one  with reinforcements coming.
"Hobbie and Kent, With me. Janson you take the rest and 
hold those fighters down, don't go for kills, just scare them off."
"Sir !", other acknowledgements came in.
Within Seconds an Xwing appeared either side of Wedge. 
"Right this is the plan." Said Wedge quickly, "Kent Take 
the left shield tower, Hobbie the right. I'll fly the bridge. They'll go 
for me first."
With that he pushed his throttle full open and let his 
wingmen fall back. he flew straight towards the Indictor Cruiser's 
bridge and like Wedge had predicted, the gunners opened up on 
him and ignored his wingmen
Wedge span and jinked his ship in an effort to evade the 
lancing fire from below and then as quickly as he'd started his run 
he'd passed over the bridge, it's two shield towers exploding as his 
other wingmen passed by.
"Join the others." ordered Wedge as he dived his ship 180 
degrees to face back at indictor and launched his six torpedoes into 
the Indictor, and threw his xwing into a desperate evasive pattern. 
However, the indictor's gunners seemed too interested in the 
torpedoes, four were blown apart before they got half way, but the 
other two stuck just above the engine housing. They ripped through 
the housing and stuck the reactor. The indictor blew it's self apart.
Wedge breathed a sigh of relief. "Janson. Talk to me !"
"They're backing off. There's nothing left to defend. 
We're in the clear for the moment. "
"Good Form up. I'll see what we can hit next." He 
changed channel. "Dillan. What's the Situation."
"Sir, We've got all but two. Ackbar's holding his own but 
everything is still touch and go."
It seemed to Wedge that the whole thing fell apart right 
there and then. There were more flashes of Psudoemotion and 
another Imperial fleet fell out of  Hyperspace straight into the rear 
of the Ackbar's fleet. Thees had shown up. 
"Dillan, Are there any indictors in that new fleet ?" Asked 
Wedge.
"We're just Scanning. ", came the reply, and then there 
was a pause, "No."
"Right, just hit those last two indictors and jump to point 
4.Tell me when those indictors are blown, Anillies out."
"Boss, Eyeballs at 4 o'clock." Called Hobbie.
"Turn and face them, Take the head to head." Called 
Wedge.
He turned his Xwing to face their latest adversaries. The 
targeting computer identified them as Tie Advanced. Wedge knew 
that these ships with competent pilots could be the end of him and 
his squadron. Perhaps they could be made to panic.
"Rouge fire photons, don't bother to lock."
Eight of rouge Squad who had torpedoes left fired 
towards the cluster of Ties. The reaction was completely 
unexpected. About seven of them went evasive leaving the 
remaining number out numbered.
"In two's. " Wedge ordered, "You and your partner take 
on one Tie Advanced each. We've got to get them before the others 
regroup. Janson go with Kent."
Acknowledgements came form all his squad. His R2 unit 
Whooped a warning and wedge flew his ship into a desperate jink, 
just to see some powerful blast from behind pass through the space 
he'd just occupied. One of the Tie Advanced hadn't been fooled 
and now was on wedge's tail.
His adversary was faster, more manoeuvrable and better 
armed. Wedge had to pull his entire skill just to avoid the Tie's 
fire. He slammed is deflectors to double back and pulled a barrel 
roll, While cutting his throttle.
A couple of glancing hits reduced hit shields by half but 
the Tie flew straight past and into his sights. Wedge opened up 
with all cannons. He scored hit after hit but the Tie's shields were 
still up. Wedge's blaster power was becoming dangerously low. He 
would have to take power from the shields leaving him very 
vulnerable. He drained his shields.
After a couple more hits the shields where down and the 
Tie's superstructure began to go. The Tie was beginning to pull out 
of range when a glancing hit must have hit something important. 
The tie began flying in a straight line. Wedge lined up and finished 
him off. Quickly he redirected power to build his shields up again.
"Rouge Squad. How are we doing ? "
"Not Bad, " replied Hobbie, "Eight Down and four on the 
run. Plfour's badly damaged, Hyperdrive's out."
"Plfour, Get Back to the cruiser, Don't engage."
"I can still Fight !" came Plfour's fiery reply.
"That's an order, otherwise you'll be left behind."
A very subdued acknowledgement came through the comm 
and Plfour's Xwing broke out of formation at full throttle. Wedge 
realised he was breathing hard. He Hadn't been through the grinder 
like this in a long while, perhaps he was getting soft.
The battle seemed to be going one sided. The New 
Republic fleet was caught between two larger fleets and was getting 
hammered. He couldn't see his and Dillan's cruiser. His Squad had 
ten ships left and there wasn't much fight left in any of them
"Things could be getting grim." he decided.
He was about the target the next indictor when a 
transmission came in."
"Dillan to all ships, The last indictor's down. Rendezvous 
point four."
"You heard the man jump when you have the chance." 
called Wedge.
A couple of ship disappeared with a quick shuddering 
effect. Wedge Scanned around until he saw Plfours's ship. She was 
trying to dock but a couple of Tie's where bothering her.
"Dillan. Can you hold until I dock ? "
"Just, We haven't got much left." Came the reply.
"Give us a ten second Count"
Wedge opened up hid throttle and pulled down, behind 
one Tie and blew it apart. The other realising the danger flipped up 
and decided to play chicken. Seeing the Tie come at him head on, 
he switched the shields double front and bore down on the tie.
Flfour's Ship docked and secured.
"Dillan. It's all right. Just go." He called.
The tie started to open fire. Green streaks of light flew by 
centimetres from his craft. Wedge waited and fire linked his 
cannons. A couple of  shot  blasted what was left of his shields 
away. Wedge lined up and squeezed the fire trigger. The tie was 
caught and span out of control.
Wedge pulled a tight turn and pulled back the hyperspace 
levers. 
"If I'm not careful, I'll end up out of practice." He 
thought.

As the entire new Republic Fleet jumped to hyperspace, 
Trake grimaced. The Bridge crew cheered and even Schedik smiled. 
"That should get them to run all the was home. " He 
commented.
Trake turned and gave him an ominous look. Schedik's 
smile dropped.
"Those indictor's should have been protected." He 
whispered quietly, "I wanted that fleet to be wiped out."
Schedik held his breath, normally Trake would find the 
week link in the command chain and replace it with painful 
efficicy. 
"Schedik, Look into this matter." He said.
Schedik nodded as Trake turned away.
"Communications." Called Trake, "Open a channel to 
Admiral Thees, I would like a word with him."


Too Be Countinued

-- 
"I plan to Live forever or Die trying !"
Phoenix D'fire