Prologue: In Formation

Roland stood tall, to his right the Lambda-class shuttle's boarding ramp descends to the hanger floor. He couldn't see it through his helmet, he couldn't turn his head. He knew who was arriving. He stood second in the front row. Glaring straight ahead he awaited for a glimpse of his Emperor. He dared not blink for it might be enough to miss him. The powerful Lord Vader walked at the Emperor's side as they passed through his vision. Roland, held his breath as his heart leapt into his throat. He was afraid. He has never been more afraid in his life. It was glorious.

"Dagger Seven and Nine, engage the A-Wings over the Executor." Roland moved his controls to bring the TIE Interceptor around to follow the command. The comm lines were heavy with background noise; commands, reports, acknowledgments. Screams. The battle was progressing virtually to every expectation until four minutes ago. The shield had fallen and members of Dagger, Emerald and Burn squadrons had chased Rebels into the Death Star II's superstructure.

Roland took a tight left turn to bring an X-Wing into his sights, squeezed his triggers to let loose a heavy salvo. Bolts smashed into the rear of the Rebel starfighter taking the astromech droid and two of the four engines. The victim sharply veered right, with a loss of stabilization began to spin, the upper right engine ignited deeper and the X-Wing exploded.

His Interceptor continued its descent towards the Imperial Dreadnought. Dagger Nine was two-hundred and thirteen meters to Roland's three o'clock. The battle above the forest moon raged all around. Course adjustments, evasion and engagement maneuvers were juggled in his mind. "Dagger Nine, do you see the fighter formations around the Executor?"

"I got targeting information on a B-Wing formation, can't find the A-Wings, insects are to fast."

"Pass me the telemetries Dagger Nine, we'll move in on them in the meantime, those A-Wings will show themselves!"

"Affirmative." Roland's screen lit up with navigational and target marks for the B-Wings, he followed Dagger Nine's lead toward the massive Star Destroyer. He was still two-and-a-half kilometres out but it had already entirely filled the horizon of his viewscreen. "Dagger Seven! The Executor's bridge!" It looked like nothing more significant than a spark. The dreadnought was already no longer controlled, its course had shifted, it was on a collision course with the Death Star II. Roland held his breath as his heart leapt into his throat. He was afraid.