Chapter 6 - TIE Fighter

"A stealth mission? On a Tie fighter?" Said Sergeant Verge Gill "I'd rather shoot myself right now and save the trouble for everyone"

Everyone laughed at the same time and felt sorry for Sergeant Verge Gill, He had the luck to pick the shortest straw of the lot. Their Squadron gathered for a briefing just beside the hanger bay.

"Why can't we send a probe droid instead?" Argued Sergeant Gill "I mean they are much harder to detect."

"The magnetic fluctuations have greatly reduced our sensory range." said Lieutenant Korr Drogo "we won't be able to get accurate readings"

"With all the empire's might, it boils down to a pair of eyes." Said Sergeant Gill

"Now Now Gill, We'll be behind you the whole time. No need to worry." Said Lieutenant Drogo. "The plan is for you Gill to scout the contact anomaly and confirm if it is just a normal freighter, a pirate smuggler, or a rebellion ship."

"How will I know if it's a rebel ship?" Said Sergeant Gill

"Well, if they are smugglers they'll shoot to kill, but if they're rebels they might shoot to disable you, or probably kill you anyway." Said Lieutenant Drogo

"That's comforting," Said Sergeant Gill, resigned to his fate. "You said sir that the anomaly's profile fits that of a Nebulon-B frigate, why is it an anomaly?"

"That's just it, the Sensor thinks it's a Nebulon B Frigate but the profile is not a 100% match, we need you to confirm before we break cover." Said Lieutenant Drogo "If trouble comes up, we'll send the rest of the squadron and engage them with Ars Moriendi as well."

"How will you know if I'm in trouble?" Asked Sergeant Gill

"Well" Said Lieutenant Drogo "We'll lose comms with you and you won't blip in the scanner anymore."

"No kidding Lieutenant" Said Sergeant Gill in a half laugh

"Ok squadron to stations" ordered Lieutenant Drogo

There was a shuffling of boots and everyone was in motion at the same time the PA sounded throughout the ship and in the speaker, he could clearly hear Lieutenant Sy Whifield " To battle stations, this is not a drill, Battlestations!" and the alarms and horns started to ring to stations.

He suited up and secured his helmet, making checks that his helmet was vacuum sealed, calibrated his life support plate and activated is commlink.

"Battlestations" Murmured Sergeant Gill, as he climbed inside his TIE Fighter. Securely strapped along with his gunner, he was no longer Sergeant Gill, but DS-44-1, his serial number.

"Star 1 this hanger control" Said the Hanger controller on commlink "Starfighter control informed me to order you to shut communications off when you exit the hanger."

"Understood hanger control." Said Sergeant Gill. "Ready to deploy."

"Acknowledge Star 1" Said the Hanger Controller "You'll be first off the rack, good hunting."

With a series of flicks on the switches, Sergeant Gill gave a thumbs up to his hanger controller then disengaged from the rack and sped off the Hanger Bay.

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Thanks for reading chapter 7 would be up after christmas if dont get caught up with the holidays,

Happy holidays and keep safe

regards,