The Anchorage
Esstran Sector
Deep Space
38 ABY

Dracaryis gripped the controls of his TIE Avenger and scanned his HUD for signs of enemy fighters. This was his ninth security patrol in as many days, but Dracaryis didn’t mind. He felt most comfortable behind the controls of a starfighter, and he enjoyed the break it gave him from his other studies and training exercises. He gently turned the controls and proceeded along the next leg of his patrol route.

“Anchorage control, Vortex 5.”

“Vortex 5, Anchorage control, go ahead,” the operator replied gruffly.

“I’m on the last leg of my security patrol.” Dracaryis stated, eyeballing his HUD again. “I’ve got nothing on the scopes, request permission to return to base.”

“Vortex 5, acknowledge request, remain on patrol route and stand by for RTB approval.”

Dracaryis reduced his engine speed and turned towards the next waypoint. He would have stayed out here for another few hours, but he knew he had an evening training session with the combat master and he needed to get some lightsaber practice in before hand. Where Dracaryis excelled in his pilot skilled, he lacked in his ability to handle a simple training saber. The past few months of constant pounding from the combat master hand frustrated and discouraged him. He was going over his training session in his head when he heard the internal alarm informing him of a craft suddenly entering the Anchorage security zone. The new target, still too far out for identification, appeared to be on a direct intercept course with the Anchorage.

“Anchorage control, I have an unidentified craft moving on approach vector towards the Anchorage. Can you confirm?”

The response was immediate. “Vortex 5, approaching craft is a flight of old Y-Wing fighters. Initial scans show they are armed with heavy rockets. Move to intercept, destroy if necessary.”

Dracaryis recycled his shields and punched the fighter’s engines.

Finally…some action.

Within minutes, the enemy fighter information populated on his HUD. Three old Y-Wings with no discernable markings flying in an echelon left formation moving directly towards the Anchorage.

“Unidentified craft, this is Vortex 5. Alter your course and depart the area or I will be forced to fire on you.”

The comm unit crackled with static. The Y-Wings were not responding.

“Unidentified craft. You have thirty seconds to alter your course or you will be destroyed.”

Dracaryis was now within visual range of the fighters. He moved into position behind the trail Y-Wing and powered up his weapon systems. Suddenly, the unmistakable yellow glare of heavy rockets appeared in front of the Y-Wings.

“Achorage control, incoming heavy rockets. Y-Wings are hostile. Request permission to destroy.”

The approval came immediately. Dracaryis fired two missiles at the trail fighter and quickly switched to lasers. He would deal with the rockets after defeating the fighters. The lead Y-Wing broke formation and maneuvered into a position behind Dracaryis’ fighter. Dracaryis opened fire on the second Y-Wing, destroying it quickly. His fighter was faster than the craft trailing him, and he knew he must destroy the rockets before they impacted the Anchorage. Suddenly, the unmistakable sound of laser fire impacting shields filled his ears. Dracaryis banked hard right, and moved to engage the remaining Y-Wing. The agile TIE Avenger easily maneuvered behind the final fighter, and within seconds, the final fighter had been reduced to molten slag. Dracaryis targeted the rockets, and realized he had seconds to destroy the rockets before they struck the Anchorage. Too far out to engage the warheads with conventional weapons, Dracaryis reached out with his mind and attempted to use his limited Force capabilities to change the rockets’ path. Slowly, one by one, Dracaryis forced the rockets off their fight path. Dracaryis turned his attention to the final warhead one second too late. The warhead impacted near the hangar bay, blasting a hole in the hull of the old station.

“Vortex 5, Anchorage control: Return to Base and proceed immediately to debriefing.”

Dracaryis swore. Nine days of uneventful patrolling, and now this. Three Y-Wings and five rockets defeated, but the damage was done. Dracaryis knew he would pay for his failure, and he was prepared for it.

“Anchorage control, Vortex 5: Acknowledged, returning to base.”

It’s going to be a rough day, Drac...