A second Y-wing exploded in a ball of vaporized metal, scattering a few solid

shards of debris across the trench. This second loss proved too much even for Red

Five to take. He manipulated controls, and his ship commenced rising in a slow

curve out of the trench. Behind him, the lead Imperial fighter moved to follow.

"Red Five to Blue Leader," he reported. "Aborting run under heavy fire. Tie

fighters dropped on us out of nowhere. I can't-wait-"

Astern, a silent, remorseless enemy was touching a deadly button once more.

The first bolts struck just as Pops had risen high enough to commence evasive action.

But he had pulled clear a few seconds too late.

One energy beam seared his port engine, igniting gas within. The engine blew

apart, taking controls and stabilizing elements with it. Unable to compensate, the

out-of-control Y-wing began a long, graceful plunge toward the station surface.

"Are you all right, Red Five?" a troubled voice called over the intership system.

"Lost Tiree...lost Dutch," Pops explained slowly, tiredly. "They drop in behind

you, and you can't maneuver in the trench. Sorry...it's your baby now. So long,

Dave..."

It was the last message of many from a veteran.

Blue Leader forced a crispness he didn't feel into his voice as he tried to shunt

aside the death of his old friend. "Blue boys, this is Blue Leader. Rendezvous at

mark six point one. All wings report in."

"Blue Leader, this is Blue Ten. I copy."

"Blue Two here," Wedge acknowledged. "Coming toward you, Blue Leader."

Luke was also waiting his turn to report when something beeped on his control

board. A glance backward confirmed the electronic warning as he spotted an

Imperial fighter slipping in behind him.

"This is Blue Five," he declared, his ship wobbling as he tried to lose the Tie

fighter. "I have a problem here. Be right with you."

He sent his ship into a steep dive toward the metal surface, then cut sharply up to

avoid a burst of defensive fire from emplacements below. Neither maneuver shook

his pursuit.

"I see you, Luke," came a reassuring call from Biggs. "Stay with it."

Luke looked above, below, and to the sides, but there was no sign of his friend.

Meanwhile, energy bolts from his trailing assailant were passing uncomfortably close.

"Blast it, Biggs, where are you?"

Something appeared, not to the sides or behind, but almost directly in front of

him. It was bright and moving incredibly fast, and then it was firing just above him.

Taken completely by surprise, the Imperial fighter came apart just as its pilot realized

what had happened.

Luke turned for the rendezvous mark as Biggs shot past overhead. "Good move,

Biggs. Fooled me, too."
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