Four silhouettes darted out of hyperspace against the brilliant starfield. Two cumbersome Y-Wings and their X-Wing counterparts formed up. Tension developed as the wait for the Imperial convoy began.

"Looks like we arrived a little early," stated Yves "Carcajou" Vermette. "They'll be along," reassured Michael "Wildcat" Baker.

"Cut the chatter you two!" snapped Spectre. "Rapier, lock S-foils into attack position."

No sooner than the words came out of Spectre's mouth then two red blips appeared on his sensor array. The four fighters banked in unison ready to engage their newly arrived foe. As they approached the Assault Gunboats ten more red blips appeared on the scopes.

"Wildcat, take Carcajou with you and do a sweep on the freighters. Find and disable the freighter carrying the Bacta. Rapier and I will engage the escorts".

"Message understood Boss. Carcajou, let's go Bacta hunting!"

The two Y-wings broke formation and started heading towards the freighters.

Then, all of a sudden Rapier's R2 unit went wild with excitement. He searched his scopes looking for a malfunction. Then all of a sudden he could see why his R2 was so alarmed! Bearing down on his position came the formidable presence of an Imperial frigate.

"Pull up 3! Pull up!" Spectre screamed to his counterpart. Rapier gripped the control stick and yanked back as hard as he could, his knuckles turning white from the vice-like grip. The X-wing began to point its nose up and the foreboding sight of the frigate consumed the view of Rapiers cockpit. The ship spiralled its way upwards, narrowly averting certain death.

"Rapier, are you alright?" asked Spectre.

"I'm just a little shook, Jeff. That was way too close for my liking."

"Agreed. Red 4 hurry up and ID the freighter. We don't want to spend more time here then necessary" ordered Spectre.

"Yes Sir," said Wildcat "Red 8, Yves cover me while I ID the freighters."

The Y-wing wasn't perhaps the most nimble of ships and one could understand Zoom's hesitation for not going on this mission. Most of Red's pilots preferred the popular X-wings and A-wings and tried to avoid the Y-wing at all costs. Not Wildcat though, where the A-wing has superior speed and the X-wing a well-balanced fighter, the Y-wing's forte is the ability to quickly disable a ship - something you can't do without ion cannons. Anyway it was a good enough excuse to get some more flying time!

Wildcat banked towards the freighters and made a couple of runs up and down the column. "Red 8, this is Red 4 I've got Bacta in Freighter Solace. Switch to Ions and disable the target."

Meanwhile Spectre and Rapier were carving up the escorts. They had cleared the first group of two GUNs when a replacement wave showed up. "Must be a System Patrol Squadron somewhere nearby," Spectre said. "Rapier, I'll take the leader. Cover me." Spectre banked his X-wing around to face the new arrivals. Closing in to nearly point-blank range, Spectre intuitively switched to dual torps and fired. The gunboat pilot had little chance at that close range. His craft exploded in his face and the characteristic star-wings careened into the space.

Suddenly the Imperials must have sensed they were losing the battle as one flight of TIE Fighters and another of TIE Interceptors decided to join the fray.

"Red Leader target disabled. Repeat target disabled."

"Roger that Mike. You and Yves stay with the freighter. Transport Brick should arrive any moment. Make sure the freighter is captured intact."

"Understood Boss."

About a minute later the Alliance transport Brick entered the area and the Imperials had taken notice. One of the TIE Fighters had broken from the ensuing melee and headed directly for the transport. "This is Transport Brick commencing capture operation. Red Leader, a bandit is heading our way can you intercept it?"

"Copy Brick. Rapier is move to intercept. Ill keep the fighters occupied while you knock out that eyeball."

"Save some for me when I get back," Rapier replied. He directed all available power to the engines and sped towards the TIE. The lone fighter was just in range of the transport and managed to squeeze of a few rounds of laser fire when a single quad shot of orange lasers incinerated the TIE's cockpit and sent the wings careening off into space. "Transport Brick, you're clear," said Rapier.

"Copy Rapier, just keep the fighters off my back."

"Rapier, form up. Wildcat, take Carcajou and engage the rest of the freighters; we've got the fighters covered."

"Copy Red Leader. Yves we are going to take out as many of the freighters as we can. Do not attack Freighter Solace. Copy that?"

There was no response. "Red 8 do you copy?" Wildcat quickly flicked through the CMD to find Carcajou entering hyperspace. "Red Leader, come in. Jeff, I've lost Yves; he's hypered out. He wouldn't answer my call."

"Roger Mike. Look, do the best you can until the freighter is captured. We'll keep the Fighters at bay."

"Alright, time to spread some mayhem," Wildcat thought. He banked his Y-wing towards the left bringing it up one of freighters in his target reticle. Switching to dual torps, he fired two salvos and then switched back to lasers to finish it. He was about to turn to line up another freighter when two more Assault Gunboats popped out of hyperspace right behind him. Spectre and Rapier were too busy dealing with TIEs to call for assistance. A concussion missile buffeted his shields.

"Okay boys, let's see how well the Imperial Academy trains its pilots these days!"

Shunting all available power into the engines Wildcat dove in amongst the freighters with a pair of Gunboats in pursuit. He was twisting and turning, in and out amongst the freighters in a deadly game of follow the leader. The lead gunboat misjudged the turn and crashed at full speed into a freighter. "One down." Turning his Y-wing around the hunted became the hunter and pursued the Imperial. Stalking - laser fire - explosion. The gunboat was destroyed.

"Docking operation complete, entering hyperspace." With that the enormous freighter and the transport shot into hyperspace.

"This is Red Leader, we've got what we came for. Repeat, all fighters pull out."

Each of the pilots punched the hyperdrive button and the familiar streaks of hyperspace lines appeared. As his X-wing lurched into hyperspace, Spectre thought to himself, "This was too easy."

A lone figure was watching the ensuing battle from the bridge when a young Lieutenant approached him. "Sir, the rebels have just entered hyperspace."

"Did they capture the poisoned bacta?"

"Yes Captain, we are also getting tracking data from the Homing Beacon."

"Excellent work. Inform Captain Damerra aboard the Star Destroyer Wisp that the bait has been taken."

"At once sir."

"Soon Red Squadron will pay for their insolence."

[FRG Regis: Hangar Bay]

Wildcat climbed out of his Y-wing and stormed over to Carcajou. "What the hell were you thinking of? Pulling out of the mission like that without a word and leaving me in the lurch!"

Yves said nothing in reply but the fury was building in Wildcat. Spectre and Rainman could see what was happening and quickly rushed over.

"What's going on" Spectre inquired.

"I am asking a few questions about Yves' mission performance, Sir."

Well, settle down Mike. I am sure Yves has a reason but now is not the time or the place. Understood?"

"But...!"

"Understood?"

"...yes sir."

Allen "Assassin" Williams was perhaps the most studious of all the Flight Cadets that had ever entered the training wing. He enjoyed sitting and talking with the members of Red Squadrons pilots in the "Citizens Mug". He learned a lot more from the pilots then any sim could teach him. Corran and Rainman showed him the importance of teamwork and loyalty while Spectre and Kyp provided the inspiration of leadership. Wildcat provided some tips on combat tactics over their games of Sabaac. But of all the pilots it was Redjed, the Regis' resident Jedi trainee, who provided the most important aspect to his "training" - balance. Redjed took it upon himself to teach Assassin the calming influence of the Force. His meditation sessions gave Assassin a much-needed perspective on the Galaxy.

Assassin was sitting in the simulators taking part in Rainman's rehabilitation. He sat in the cockpit of a TIE Avenger or "Advanced" as it was more commonly referred to. Rainman, on the other hand, was in an X-Wing trying merely to survive. Assassin rolled onto Rainmans tail and quickly dumb fired two concussion missiles. The X-Wing erupted in a ball of flames.

Inside Rainman's cockpit he saw the Imperial Pilot swoop behind his own fighter. The next thing he knew, everything in the simulator was blood red.

"Shoulder still getting at you Rain?"

"Yeah, but I still can't believe you got me with those missiles. Did you even get a lock?"

"Nope, dumb fired them! You wouldn't believe how many Rebel Pilots I killed with that trick... Sorry, I mean, well I'm still kinda used to the Imps. Oh, by the way, I've got some more simulator clips for you to review..."

At that moment, their comms crackled to life. "All pilots report to Briefing Room 2, right now!"

Rainman spoke up, "I'll view 'em later. Come on, Allen. Let's see what this is all about."

The pilots had gathered in the briefing room when Assassin and Rainman entered. Spectre approached the lectern. "Men, I would like to introduce my new adjutant Cadet Chris Jarvis. I've requested an Aide from Alliance High Command to handle some of the paperwork that goes into running this squadron. He will be handling all the flight assignments from now on." There was a pause and then Spectre motioned the Holoprojector to life.

"Three minutes ago two Imperial-class Star Destroyers came out of hyperspace one on each side of the Regis. Rapier and Corran were on patrol at the time and are moving to intercept the fighters. We are mobilising the squadron while the Regis and the freighter Solace to make a run into hyperspace. We sent out a distress signal before the jamming field was put in place but it is unknown how quickly reinforcements will arrive. Until they do protect the Regis at all costs. Cadet Jarvis, what are the flight assignments?"

Eager to impress on his first day, the young recruit approached the lectern. "The flight assignments will consist of three X-wing elements and three A-wing elements. The first X-wing element consisting of Corran and Rapier has already launched. The second will consist of Kyp and Rainman while Redjed and Ranger will pilot the third. Spectre and Fox will head up the first of the A-wings, Zoom and Carcajou pilot the second while Wildcat and Gargoyle pilot the third."

Rainman raised a hand, "Sir, I am still not one hundred percent medically fit. You may have to find a replacement for me."

Jarvis was slightly red-faced. "Do you have a replacement in mind?"

"Well, no, but Assassin has shown much promise in the sims."

"Who?"

"That would be me sir, I'm registered as a trainee though," Assassin spoke up tentatively.

"Slightly irregular but if Spectre doesn't object you will be on Kyp's wing. If there is nothing else, man your fighters."

As the pilots started filing out of the room Assassin walked up to Rainman. "Are you sure I'm ready for this? I mean I'm barely halfway done with my training."

"Just remember what I've taught you, draw on the strength of what I and others have taught you and you'll do fine. Now get to an X-Wing before it leaves without you!"

With that Assassin joined the other pilots donning their flight suits and helmets. Nestling in the X-wing's seat he switched on the Comm. "Assassin, this is Kyp, stay on my wing and follow my orders to the letter. And don't get cocky whatever you do."