Star Wars: Duel of the Fates

Chapter 64

Hux looked as the debris from the Star Destroyers gradually spreading outwards. Something in the engines detonated and the nearest ships were battered with shrapnel, crippling three further First Order vessels.

"I want those Corvettes reduced to charred metal," he said, his shoulders tense.

The petty officer nodded, "TIEs inbound now."

"And get our autocannons high enough to take out their cruisers. Make it a sudden acceleration so they don't have time to move out of range."

"Yes, sir."

The three remaining Hammerhead Corvettes lined up beneath another vessel.

On one of the Hammerhead bridges, the commander braced herself, "Elevating now."

The Corvettes rose beneath another enemy ship as an incoming squad of TIE bombers descended on them.

"Scramble and defend!" Poe said peeling away and shooting at one headed in his direction.

"Copy that, Black Leader," Wrobie said spiralling behind another.

"Chewie, get us in closer," Finn said.

The Falcon swept below the middle Corvette.

Zorii's Y-Wing and Wrobie's A-Wing flew back and forth as more and more squadrons drew closer.

The Hammerhead commander took a deep breath in, "Brace for impact."

Again they collided with the underside of the Star Destroyer and ignited their sublight engines to full.

The ship above them quivered and started to rise.

Then all chaos broke loose as fifty TIEs swarmed them, quickly annihilating the Corvette beneath the front of the Destroyer. It jerked violently up as the middle and back continued to rise; wrenching the entire ship to an ever increasing angle.

The Falcon whirled around as they tried to protect the Hammerhead above them but two TIEs got through. They fired as they coiled around the Corvette and it erupted into a large explosion.

Wrobie flinched as her cockpit was bathed in the red and orange light from the flames.

The TIEs slipped away to the rear of the Star Destroyer as it shot up, the angle of the entire vessel even more acute than before.

Aftab followed them, quickly catching up and destroying both from behind.

Staring at the scene in front of him, Hux's brow contracted in frustration, "Why is that last Hammerhead still in one piece?"

"We have every available TIE fighter and bomber there, sir," the chief petty officer said.

"Are our sublight engines ready?"

"Yes, sir."

"Excellent. I want a single burst from all our ventral engines at full power."

"Primed and ready, sir."

He nodded.

The dreadnought rose suddenly, elevating it high above the main battle. The autocannons aimed at the main Resistance cruiser below it and fired.

The large red orbs of energy collided with the side of it, causing the chain of blasts to spread along the entire left side.

"Good," Hux said, "Target the next cruiser."

Colonel D'Arcy looked at the readout in horror, "Get us out of their weapon range."

"Oh my," C-3P0 said barely managing to stay on his feet as the deck trembled.

"The ships integrity has been compromised and our engines aren't responding," Connix said, "Hull breaches reported across multiple decks."

The voice of Nien Nunb spoke over the com as Tantive IV was obliterated by the next volley of cannon fire from the dreadnought leaving only jumbled static in its wake.

Colonel D'Arcy turned back towards the console, "Rose, can you get us moving?"

Rose responded over the com, "Sorry Colonel but the extent of the damage is too big for us to fix before the ships support structures fail. We maybe have ten minutes before the fuel lines are compromised and take out the cruiser."

"I see," she said, "Connix, patch me across the entire ship."

She pressed a series of buttons, "It's ready."

"This is Colonel D'Arcy: I am issuing an order to abandon ship. I repeat, abandon ship."

Red lights started flashing along every wall and panel across the entire ship, as a loud warning siren started to endlessly drone.

Rose looked up from the hyperdrive and began leading people out of the engine room.

Maz wheeled her chair around and jumped to her feet, "Children, disengage your weapons and get to the escape pods."

She stood at the door as they passed, "Down on the right. No fewer than six in each vessel."

Kyra stopped in front of her, "What about the Mirialan boy?"

She went across to the comlink, "Prison block."

There was a pause.

"Prison block, this is turbolaser room five," Maz said, "Is there anyone there?"

Still nothing.

She turned to look up at Kyra, "They must have evacuated already."

"Are you certain?"

Smiling, she took a step forward, "We can go to check if you want. There are escape pods near that part of the cruiser."