The Simulator - Sullust Assault

[Naula Kahtier]

Obsidian black claimed her vision from wall to wall. The space was tight and without fresh air-flow; perfectly sealed to prevent even a single memory of the outside world from getting in. She had been in the tube only a handful of seconds, but Naula could taste the oddly dry and chemical laced stench of a filtration system. Moister was sucked from the air to her aft and pumped back from grates next to her thighs with a freshness that was both fake and simply wrong. It was unsettling, but also welcoming and familiar. Lights bloomed into being without warning, their arrival heralding a gentle vibration under her feet and behind her stiffly-built chair. An array of buttons and diagnostic readouts played across a suddenly visible console and Naula instinctively reached for the duel mounted handles that presented themselves to either side. She gave the handles grip a testing squeeze, fingers naturally lacing around the accompanying triggers and flip-switches. Stars bloomed ahead, diodes above and to her side gained power, and with a rush of sudden motion the simulation was complete. In a matter of seconds Naula had been transported from a cylindrical tube on Bothawai, to the crimson world of Sullust.

The planet hung in front of her with monumental impact, dominating the port side of her canopy and much of the ships forward arc. From space, cloud cover obscured much of the landmass but she could still make out the characteristic bright streaks of red. Sullust was a molten planet in places, woven among darker greys and blacks that gave it an eerie orbital appearance. Her eyes claimed the orb in it's glory, searching among the expected colours for something that was not. Naula found it. A trail of tiny dots fluttered between the planets northern pole and a distinctive point in geostationary orbit. She could have missed it with ease, but the halo of the planets reflected glow highlighted the irregular swarm of activity.

"Ok, Titans listen up." Came the simulated voice of Colonel Muus Vaal. "Your target is the Imperial orbital. Minimal defenses, two squads of TIE. Should be a breeze." Nuus Vaal squawked with an easy tone, his words affirming and confident. History told this particular engagement much differently. Whether Titan Squadron had actually been at this particular battle, Naula did not know. What she did know however was that after the Battle of Endor various Rebel-affiliated forces mounted strikes on Imperial stations, forces, or supply lines. It was these initial engagements that would lead to the brief conflict between Empire and Alliance. With the Empire licking their wounds from Endor, the majority of Imperial capital ships had been withdrawn to protect the ship-yards at Kuat and other vital worlds. This left their stations at Sullust and similar worlds relatively undefended - or so the Rebel's thought.

Maybe history will tell this defeat differently, today.

"All wings report in." Naula commed to the flight group, taking up her role as head of the pack.

[Zwane Nkosi]

Kids these days are so spoiled, with their holographic simulations and sense of entitlement toward a safe training experience. Back in his day, in the early minutes of the Rebellion, they were lucky to get any practice time in the air before being thrown into the meat grinder that was space combat. A extremely cynical view would see it as an effective method for separating the wheat from the chaff. Only those with natural skill or previous experience survived, and the bad and the unlucky died immediately. Zane had been one of the former.

He wasn't sure why he had been selected for this training exercise. His CO said they needed some experienced pilots in the mix. That wasn't saying much. Zane was probably old enough to be some of these green ears father. His coat had long ago lost it's luster and there was gray in his mane. He knew coming into this that he wasn't going to fit in. It was not as if he had a choice. This was not a hill he was prepared to die on. And as he assumed, the simulation room was no place for him. Doors to duck under and if it wasn't for his foot cups, his hooves would scrap the shit out of this polished floor. The simulation pod was also a bit of a cram to climb into. His own A-Wing had been modified for his size, but no such accommodation was to be found here.

It wasn't long before he finally settled in and the familiar sight of Sullust came into view. He'd been here before. Not for this historic battle, but other times. Green Squadron had never fought over Sullust. Most of them died over Endor and the few that survived had going through rehabillitation. Losing Arvel and the others had been extremely rough on the tight knit A-Wing Squadron. Nobody came back the same after that battle.

"All wings report in."

A voice on over the comms snapped him back from the ghost of the past and he focused on the simulated visuals. His hands found the yoke, and began flipping switches to adjust the cockpit interface to his preferences. All that grief and self hatred faded away with Zane as Sticks took over and confidently replied into the secure comm channel.

"Titan 4 standing by."