And these are just the grunts!
Rogue Two swiftlyp ulled to Daren's starboard, watching for the next wave of hsotiles. So far the Rogues could only claim two Chiss kills. One by Daren obviously, the other by the now dead Lt. Wyker, or Rogue Seven.
"Two, you doing alright?" Daren asked, keeping his eyes on the battle.
"Roger One," Two responded.
"Attention all Rogues, this is OsSec Command, we are moving into full retreat, prepare to move with us," came the long expected call from the Ossus Military Structure. Even with the way the battle was turning, Daren felt appaled by the inherint lack of courage in the Parliment. He and Gash had survived Dantooine...could they not brave this? Daren flipped on open channels.
"Negative Command, we're fighting to the end," he replied. This seemed to send a shiver up Two's spine, but more out of excitement than fear.
"Neg that Major Treveland, order the withdrawl or relieve your command to Commander Rylteld. We cannot spare so many X-Wings."
The latter of the statement literally appaled the Rogue Squadron leader, and he buit hsard down on his lip. What about the pilots? What about the lives inside the X-Wings?
"With all due respect Command, go to hell," Daren yelled, and closed frequency to the Parliment. Did they have no pride? Would htey not rather fight to the end than tuck tail and run from their own capital? Something was wrong, Master Jiren would never order a retreat from his own capital for the sake of a few credits.
"You did the right thing sir," said Six, breaking the "silence".
"I hope so. Ok Rogue group fall into formation and let's give some fire support to the big ships."
"Here they come!" cried out Rogue Twelve. Daren gazed forward and noticed the sudden wave of Clawcraft pouring onto the XJ X-Wings. A lump formed in the Major's throat as he gazed at the picture of Raven wedged into his HUD. I love you Raven!
Then the two lines met with great ferocity. Green and red lasers tore into each other, srhjapnel flying out of control as Clawcraft and X-Wings alike split apart and flew away in mass. Daren refused to die, he had to see Raven again, and for every one of these Chiss @#%$ he killed, it was closer and closer he got to seeing her.
"I survived Dantooine, I will survive this!" he screamed as one of his torpedos ended the life of yet another Chiss and his fighter.