Only An Ensign

SUBMITTED BY: SL Jack Pavz / Lamed 3-1 / VSD Stalwart
HOLONET REGISTRATION: <
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Ensign Jack Pavz walked down the hallway, his boots clinking against the steel floor. He returned to his quarters after his morning meal. He had been on the Imperator-II class Star Destroyer Chimaera only a month, but he had come to recognize it as home. He walked into his quarters and washed his face with cold water. He looked into the mirror as he slipped into his formal dress uniform. He smirked as he saw the cylinders on his collar and insignia on his shirt that announced to everyone his rank: Ensign. Sure, he was only an ensign he thought to himself. His superior officers had no idea of his experience.

He had flown several raids in the isolated Hapes Consortium "unofficially" for the Hapan monarchy. He even commanded a small fleet for a short time in the Koornacht Cluster, suppressing some of the Yeventhan rebellions for local governments. Ah, yes he thought to himself, recalling the memories. Those were the good times. He had kept a low profile in order to eliminate the chances of espionage and assassination, but was it all worth it? He shook his head as he straightened his uniform.

At 25, he had joined the Galactic Empire under Grand Admiral Daemon, and received his commission only a month ago. He was an ensign by their ranks, regretting joining the Empire at first, but he new he had made the right choice, and it would take hard work and a lot of hours to gain rank. He had spent night after night chatting with superior officers in the "Chimaera’s" Cantina and the Pilot’s Bar, never hesitating to ask them a question. He had developed several friendships with some of the other officers while in dock.

A couple of them were Lieutenant Boston of the Imperial Security Bureau, Dervin, who had just been promoted to captain and received his own ship, and his very only Squadron commander, Lieutenant Exar Palantas. The officers, he found, weren’t as disrespectful to him as he thought they’d be. He’d heard rumors of several other Ensigns being put through hell just because they were a lower rank. He smiled as he realized he was lucky to have such good comrades on board. Suddenly, the comm. system crackled to life.

"All pilots in Alpha and Gamma Squadrons, please report to the briefing room at once," an annoying female voice said. Ensign Jack Pavz finished buttoning his shirt, and headed out into the hall. He met Sub-Lieutenant Saiveer on his way down to the briefing room. He gave his superior officer a casual salute and asked, "Sir, do you have any idea what this is bout?" Saiveer shrugged and continued to walk beside Pavz. They entered the briefing room and he took a seat in the front row, next to his Squadron Leader, Palantas. He took a look at Palantas, gave him an acknowledging nod, and then turned to face Commander Junon, who was just starting the briefing.

"As you all know, gentlemen," he began, his sharp voice ringing out over the others’ and quieting the room down. "The fleet under Grand Admiral Daemon has just gotten a new ship. The VSD "Stalwart" has just been commissioned in the Antar system, where the "Chimaera" is heading. We have just gotten a distress call from the "Stalwart". A strike force of three rebel frigates has ambushed them, just as they came out of dock. That makes for a total of 72 fighters, most X-wings and A-wings. The Stalwart’s few pilots are being overwhelmed and getting slaughtered, and the new ship herself is taking a beating. We are being sent there to assist in the capture and/or kill of the rebel scum." He spitted the last words out in contempt. He nodded to the group of determined men sitting before you. "You know what you need to do. As you all know, Beta Squadron is undergoing refit, and Delta Squadron is on a training mission, so they are currently unavailable. You shouldn’t need them. Dismissed!"

All of the pilots stood and began running to the hangar bay. Ensign Pavz threw on his flight suit and helmet, and jumped into his fighter. He slid into the cockpit of his very own Tie Interceptor, which he had lovingly painted on the side "Intruder". He punched in the start-up sequence and the consoles came to life. The ingress/egress access hatch behind him hissed shut as the small fighter began to move forward.

The TIE fighters screamed out of the hangar bay, assuming formation immediately. His Flight Leader, Sub-Lieutenant Vortagh came over clearly through the comm-link in his helmet.

"Gamma Flight Two, check in."

"Gamma 2-2, check," Ensign Aragon responded.

"Gamma 2-3, I’m here," he answered.

Ensign Bob said "Gamma 2-4, ready."

"Multiple bogeys, 1 o’clock!" Vortagh announced, as several enemy fighters came into view. Only a few of the Stalwart’s pilots were left, fighting bravely. Let’s show ‘em what we’re made of Gamma!"

Ensign Pavz switched lasers and shields to full charge, and plowed into the melee, lasers blasting. He smiled as the bright green lances of light shot out from his interceptor, tearing through the hull of a nearby X-wing. He laughed as he steered the fighter to another direction, choosing from the multiple targets. Thumb pressed down on his joystick; he fired the pulses of energy up another rebel Y-Wing’s tail pipes. It burst into a spectacular show of flames and debris before him. He smiled, rolling the ship yet again to find another target.

His smile faded as he saw the red light and beeping tone that warned him of an enemy lock. He yanked up on his joystick, trying to loop around the pursuing fighter. The rebel pilot, obviously a veteran, anticipated the ensign’s move and looped with him, maintaining a target lock. Ensign Pavz tried to shake his opponent, doing several turns and loops, only successful in delaying the enemy’s target lock for a few seconds.

"Gamma 2-3 here, requesting assistance!" He shouted over the comm. The red laser bolts from the enemy reached their target, striking the interceptor 2 times in his rear deflector shields. "Aarrrrghhhhh!" he shouted, seeing his shields go down 50%.

Suddenly he saw another Tie Interceptor flying straight toward him. "I’m here for you, kid," his Squadron leader said. He pushed the stick forward as far as it could go, sending his fighter into a steep dive. Palantas fired a concussion missile up the rebel’s throat, laughing as he flew through the smashed ruins of the rebel’s ship.

"Thank you sir. I owe you one," the ensign said to the squadron leader.

"Anytime, Pavz," the lieutenant chuckled. "Now keep up the good flying!"

"Yessir," the ensign replied, and switched to his load of 6 concussion missiles. He faced his ship towards the "Stalwart", turning his attention to a B-wing that was about to make a bombing run on the VSD. He heard the sweet sound of a red lock on the B-wing and let a missile fly from the Interceptor. It impacted with the B-wing, taking out its shields but only half of its hull stability. He cursed as he fired his lasers at the rebel, turning him into space dust. Similar happenings were going on in all parts of the battle. Since Gamma and Alpha Squadrons had joined the battle, only 6 imperial pilots had been lost, while the rebels had taken 23 casualties. The rebel’s morale being crushed at the sudden turn of events, the pilots began fleeing. Shortly after, they entered hyperspace, followed by the frigates.

"Comm to all imperial pilots," Commander Junon came over the comm. "Well done. Report back to the "Chimaera" for refueling and repairs. We have recorded the rebel’s hyperspace route and will follow them soon. Junon out."

The ensign heard cheers over the comm while he and they made their way back to the Star Destroyer. He flew into the hangar bay, gearing himself up for the oncoming battle.