Project Boussh: A Tribute To Wraith Squadron (And Others...)
by Majick

Mike and Decras stared silently at what lay in front of them. Each supported
the other, their wounded bodies conspiring to collapse without aid. But in
front of them was their ticket to ride.

"It's been a hard day's night," Mike said, as he approached. "I think it's
time we let it be. Look at us, we're exhausted."

Decras nodded his silent assent, entranced, as Mike was, by the promise of
power and speed contained in what they faced.

"Get back," he said, drawing his pistol. Turning, he fired at an equipment
locker, blowing the lock. The door swung open, revealing a pair of TIE
fighter pilot jumpsuits, and the requisite helmets.

Mike grimaced as he held his up. "A bit small," he commented. "It'll do, I
guess." He started to change clothes, but paused to gesture behind him.
"Ever since I saw her standing there, I've known this was how I'd get out of
here. Remind me to contact Elassar once we get going."

Eventually, the two were suitably attired. Mike looked mournfully at his
formerly pristine trenchcoat, before laying it respectfully on the hangar
floor.

"I feel very strange leaving it here, but I do get some compensation," he
allowed, standing up straight and facing their means of escape.

"After all, how many Terrans get to say they've flown in a TIE Defender?"

====

The Defender, protected from the mines by its shields, had been relatively
simple to break into, once Decras had sliced into the hangar control system.
Once inside, they improvised a harness for Decras, allowing him to act as a
co-pilot. Mike got to concentrate on the flying, Decras got the comm and the
other minutiae. It would be tricky, and the Defender would be more sluggish
than normal, but as it was the most manoeuvrable craft in the battle, Mike
wasn't too worried about that. Besides, with their injuries -which they'd
taken heavy duty painkillers for- they added up to about one whole pilot.

"Do you want to know a secret?" he asked Decras. The Noghri stayed silent.

"Ever since I first heard about this ship, I wanted to fly it, even more
than an X-Wing. Now I've got to fly both, in less than 24 hours. I must be
the luckiest man alive."

"Shields are at 150% rated power," Decras commented.

"Something tells me this may be an officer's personal escape vehicle. Look
at the acceleration... 180 MGLT... That's nearly twice as fast as an
X-Wing... The shields are strengthened, the weapons are probably stronger,
and we're carrying more warheads than any ship except maybe a dedicated
bomber... This ship is tricked out to the max! Decras, I think we might just
make it through this battle."

"I would hope that was your intent from the start."

"...Of course it was, but now I think we probably will do it...  I wasn't
prepared to count on that before."

"Engaging engines."

"Nice and easy... Bringing her up to 25% thrust"

The Defender rose on its repulsorlifts, and slid smoothly across the hangar
floor, and through the magcon field.

====

On the bridge, Thrawn watched over the battle, observing, ordering, drinking
in all that was happening. Behind him sat the captured prisoners, silently
watching the events taking place around them.

"Sir, unauthorised launch from hangar seventeen!"

"Show me the sensor feed," Thrawn ordered. A faint frown crossed his
features as he recognised his own Defender exiting the hangar, and making a
sharp right turn to fly along the hull.

====

"Decras, I need to know where the shield generators are on this ship," Mike
asked. Decras already had the information ready for him.

"Let's see... Okay, let's follow this line, and we'll get to one."

====

Thrawn thought briefly over his options, before reaching a decision.

"Weapons, target the TIE approaching the ventral shield generator. All
available turbolasers and missile launchers to fire at will."

"Sir?" the weapons officer replied.

"It may lack elegance, Lieutenant, but I cannot waste time worrying about a
single snubfighter."

"No, sir, what I mean is, if we miss, then we'll hit our own hull."

Thrawn looked momentarily nonplussed, before snapping: "You have your order,
Lieutenant!"

"Aye sir!" the Lieutenant yelped, spinning around and firing a string of
commands at his subordinates.

====

"Multiple weapons locks, missiles and turbolasers," Decras reported calmly.

"Really? Damn... I was hoping staying inside his shield would encourage him
to leave us alone. Oh well... Time to see if Becki's pancakes sit easily on
the stomach. "

With that, Mike suited word to deed, and threw the manoeuvrable Defender
into a gut wrenching series of twists, spins, and turns. The guns fired, the
missiles launched, and a series of near misses, close explosions, and even a
couple of glancing hits buffeted the Defender.

But they were lucky, and despite a few cries of "Help!" from the pilot, the
Defender emerged from the gauntlet remarkably intact. The worst damage
seemed to be to the inertial compensator, something Decras got right to work
on.

Decras scanned the sensor data. "It would appear the weapons fire from the
Admonitor impacted mainly on its own shielding and hull. Fire control in
this area of the ship is lost, as well as there being a hull breach on deck
four."

"I guess cloning Thrawn meant he didn't get to be so good this time out."
Mike said, with a shrug. "The Thrawn I've read about would be far too good to
make that kind of mistake. Hell, *I* wouldn't make that kind of mistake.
Now, with a little help from our friends, I reckon we might be able to take
this one down."

Decras activated the comm, and Mike cleared his throat. "Terra Four to all
Terran forces. Am beginning assault on the Admonitor's shield generators...
from the *outside.*  I am flying a TIE Defender, and would appreciate it if
no-one would shoot me. Feel free to shoot the Admonitor."

"Four, what in the name of the Sith..."

Mike winced, before interrupting. "One, no time to talk... One thing y'all
might want to bear in mind.... Thrawn seems to be less with it than we
feared. He's already severely damaged his own ship to try and kill me and
Decras. It's worth bearing in mind. Four out."

Decras turned off the comm, and Mike returned his attention to the shield
generator just clearing the horizon in front of him. After the assault, he'd
slowed down to a relative crawl, the better to simulate debris from the
damage Thrawn had inflicted. With luck, the trick would work for a while.
He'd have to remember to think of a way to thank Shalla when they got back.

"Well, Thrawn," Mike said as his crosshairs flickered over the generator. He
flicked the weapons switch to dual torpedo fire. "You've killed my people,
tired to kill me, and you ruined my coat. These come, with love, from me to
you."

His finger tightened on the trigger.