Star Wars: The Strike on the Assassinator

The Strike on the Assassinator is a story about the Rebels destroyed a super star destroyer prototype at Dantooine in 1 BBY during the Battle of Dantooine.

Prologue
Coruscant - 33 ABY

"It happened years ago" said Kovak Ranoma, retired leader of Black Wing. "Those days were dark times, you understand. We had several victories but it seemed that the Empire would still win."

"You briefly mentioned when Black Squadron destroyed a massive star destroyer when I asked you about when you served." replied his 14-year old son Marvik.

"You were a bit young then to understand about the details of the Civil War, so I saved it for when you were older." "I can understand that." replied Marvik. "I shall tell you the story of when we took down a massive star destroyer called the Assassinator." said Kovak

Kovak began to tell his story...

Chapter I
Dantooine - 1 BBY

"I see you bagged a TIE during that little skirmish we had" said Kovak to Muron Numari. "Let's see, that's three, only two more to down and you'll be an ace." "Thank you, sir" replied Muron.

"That's good, but it was only a little skirmish. Just wait until we get into a proper space battle, things will not be so easy then." replied experienced pilot Vorik K'Nugoratha, Vorik joined the squadron 3 years previously and had fought in the Battle of Nar Shaddaa and in many skirmishes. He was second-in-command of the squadron and was known in battle as "Black 2".

"Lay off, Vorik." replied Kovak "He's new and he has yet to see a battle." "Yes, sir" replied Vorik "Sorry, Muron". "That's fine" replied Muron "That's another bar for the kill score".

"I cannot believe we are actually still using the old ARC-170 when other squadrons are using Z-95 Headhunters. It's as if High Command want us to be martyrs to the cause by dieing in a ball of flames." angrily exclaimed Black 3, Tavila Orudani. "They don't want that, it's just many people in the squadron were trained on them and we like them. Also the Empire is destroying any ships found to be carrying Headhunters." replied Kovak.

"I know, I am sick of flying these obsolecent flying coffins." replied Tavila with a hint of anger in his voice. "I know what you mean, but until the Imperial stranglehold is broken our insignificant little squadron is the one of the least of High Command's worries." said Kovak. "I suppose you're right again." said Tavila with a sigh.

"Ok, everyone let's go to the mess hall and have something to eat." said Kovak to the group. "Yeah, I'm hungry now" agreed Muron. The mess was relatively simple, it was just a pre-fab block with a kitchen and seating area added. A seperate block which was connected to the mess was the cold store. "What's on the menu today?" enquired Vorik. "Let's see, there is: Alderaan Stew, Csolcir, Nerf Sausage and Mounder Potato rice, Baked dru'un slices in fish sauce, Aurebesh Soup, Vege-steak, mallow cake and water. A nice selection." said Kovak "I'll second that." replied Vorik

They got their food and sat down at a table.

Chapter II
The tanoy system blasted "Imperial Star Destroyer has entered the system! All squadrons SCRAMBLE!" Everyone in the base was running about preparing for the raid. Black Squadron ran to their ARCs and got in them, ready for combat. "Stand by ION cannon." ordered the Weapons Control Officer "Star Destroyer will be in firing range in 5 minutes." "Roger that" replied the ION cannon commander. "Major General, we have intercepted an Imperial communiqué." reported De-coder Jurik V'Orzanngarrn "Message reads "URGENT MESSAGE FOR IMPERIAL NAVY HEADQUATERS: This is the star destroyer Torturer stop. We have detected a significant Rebel presence on Dantooine stop. Grid Coordinates: L-4 stop. We are commencing attack stop." "What shall we do, sir?" she asked.

Major General Ulrand replied "We shall wait until they are in range and blast them with an ION round, whist the ION has immobilised them and temporarily taken down their shields we send in the starfighters to destroy the globes on the top, preventing the star destroyer calling for help and permanently destroying their shields, we will then give it a few blasts from the DaPlaDeS (Dantooine Planetery Defence System - a network of heavy turbolaser batteries stationed all over the planet - the Rebel technicians and defence experts who designed and built it claimed it could destroy any ship in the Imperial Navy) and the job is done." 5 minutes passed "Star Destroyer in range" reported the Weapons Control Officer. "Roger, targeted and ready for your signal" replied the ION cannon commander. "Stand by...Fire!" order the Weapons Control Officer.

An ION round streaked up at the Star Destroyer. "ION ROUND INBOUND SIR!" Yelled Lieutenant Vrolak "Hard a port!" yelled Captain Koogiras "Aye, sir" replied the Lieutenant. However it wasn't enough, they ION round struck the Torturer and disabled it. "Sir, engine failure! Shields also down!" loudly reported Vrolak to Koogiras. Koogiras quickly replied "Hurry up and get them up again! We're a sitting target here!" "All Engineers are to report to the Engine rooms and the shields generator immediatly!" Vrolak ordered over the tanoy system.

"Direct hit! Well done!" happily reported the Weapons Control Officer. "They're a sitting duck. All starfighters are to engage immediatly! And make sure they know they have at least 5 minutes to destroy the globes before the star destroyer's computers come online and they call for help." ordered the Major General. "Yes, sir" replied numerous Flight Controllers. The Flight Controller passed on information to the pilots fighting the battle, they passed on everything from mission updates to alerts that a bogey was on a pilots' tail. Pilots respected them for the amount of times they had alerted them to bogeys on their tails'.

Generally each squadron had its own Flight Controller, at first Flight Controllers were not members of Squadrons because unlike the pilots they did not fight in starfighters. However most Squadron Leaders regarded their squadrons' personal Flight Controller as a member of the squadron and the Rebel High Command decided to change the rank system so Flight Controllers could be a member of the squadron.

The Flight Controllers of Black Squadron was a young (some would say green) Corellian called Flight Officer First Class Vak Darel. He was only 18 and had just joined the Alliance Army (in the Starfighter Corps) two months before. He had yet to see a real space battle.

Vak come over the radio "The Major General has said that you only have 5 minutes before their power comes online and their shields go up, work fast." "Roger that, Vak" replied Black 1 "Let's go give 'em hell!" The rest of the squadron agreed. "Sir, we have Rebel starfighters inbound!" reported Vrolak. "Bah! They're going to hit us when our power's down, they're more tactically-minded than I gave them credit." repied Koogiras. "Launch starfighters". "Yes sir" replied Vrolak.

"Vak, we have a few bogeys launching" reported Black 1. "Affermative, Black 1. Our scanners count 10 out of each hanger." replied Vak. "Black Squadron, lock s-foils and attack positions." "Roger that" replied the other members. S-foils locked the ARC-170s now had 6 wings instead of the default 2 "Here they come!" said Black 1. "Let's teach those Imps a thing or two about starfighting!" said Black 3, with a hint of happiness in his voice. The rest of the squadron replied in the affermative.

Black 1 broke hard as he did a steep climb, his ARC shot upwards almost at a right angle, the other members as well as the Imps were in awe at how even an old crate of a starfighter could dance around space in the hands of an experienced pilot. Black 1 then pulled a 180 degree roll and pulled up the stick, his ARC now diving on the TIE squadron he let off a few blasts from the two wing-mounted laser cannons, the laser cannons hit their target dead on, a TIE burst into flames. The remaining members of the squadron braked hard in an attempt to shake him, however they were no-where near as experienced in dogfighting as Black 1, one TIE rolled from left to right as it tried to get him to over-shoot straight into the TIEs' sights, however what the TIE didn't know is that Black 1 had faced this particular move many times and knew how to counter it.

Black 1 pulled as hard back on the throttle as he could, he felt his ARC shake due to the massive deceleration in a short space of time. The TIE shot forward and Black 1 fired two red bolts at it before the pilot slowed down as well. The TIE jerked to the right just before the bolts hit but the TIE didn't jerk enough and the right-hand bolt struck the left-hand wing of the TIE and blew it off, TIE began to spiral downwards towards Dantooine. Black Squadron finished off the rest of the TIE fighters whilst Black 1 commenced an attack on the globes, he left off 2 plasma torpedoes at the first globe, with no shields it exploded brilliantly, he then did the same to the other globe before re-joining his squadron in mopping up the remaining TIEs.

Major General Ulrand came over the radio "Well done Black Squadron, your job is done return home we have a little reception waiting for you." "Thank you very much, sir" replied Black 1 "Ok Blacks, let's head home. Black 4 replied "Thanks to us we still have a home to go to" "Yeah" agreed Black 5.

"Sir, our energy generators have been destroyed! We cannot call for help!" reported Vrolak. "I know" replied Koogiras as he watched as many red laser bolts streaked towards him at him.

"Fire DaPlaDeS!" ordered Ulrand. "Yes sir" replied the Weapons Control Officer. "DaPlaDeS Control you are clear to open fire, give 'em hell boys." A rather crackly voice appeared over the radio "We'd love to, make sure you collect the scrap when we're finished with the Imp ship! I know that many guys on Tatooine would pay through the nose for some destroyed star destroyer!" "Aye, sure. I'll just request for a salvage operation!" replied the Weapons Control Officer, jokingly. "Hell yeah!" replied DaPlaDeS Control "Say "Goodnight" Imps!"

There was a loud crackling noise as what must be at least 300 heavy turbolaser batteries opened up on the Torturer. The Weapons Control Officer watched as the laser bolts streaked up at the Star Destroyer. When suddeny there was a brilliant red flash as the first bolts vapourised the bridge, there were even more red flashes as the bolts impacted all down the fuselage. Despite taking much damage the core of the Star Destroyer had not been destroyed. Black 2 decided to go and attack it, since no resistance remained all he had to do was lock onto the core and fire two plasma torpedos at it.

The core exploded and the star destroyer was vapourised in a brilliant whitey-yellow ball, when the explosion disappeared all that remained of the Imperial I-class ship was a few molten slags. "Excellent work Black 2" happily said Major General Ulrand, Black 1 your squadron has excelled today!" "Thank you very much, sir" replied Black 1. "Right everyone let's go and have our lunch".

"Blacks, listen up." requested Black 1 to the rest of his squadron "It has come to my attention that Black 4 - Flight Officer Muron Numari bagged 4 Eyeballs during that battle, he is now an ace. I suggest we celebrate with a few rounds of Alderaan Beer." "Yeah, I'm up for that!" replied Numari. "Yes, let's celebrate our victory." replied Black 2