What do you get when you cross

with

Balto

????

BALTO:
THE STAR WARS ADAPTATION

Introduction
The Rebel Alliance is still struggling against the Galactic Empire. But they have a new ally; the planet Canis. Many able Canines, both young and old, have joined the Alliance. The majority of these have joined the various Rebel fighter squadrons. This is the story of one of those squadrons; and one of the Alliance's most desperate battles....

Captain Steele, leader of Blue squadron, was sweating inside his cockpit. His fighter, the infamous V-45 Wolf-Wing , was still falling behind the other ships. His wingmen, Nikki, Kaltag, and Star, were heavily damaged and might not make it.

"I had to try to win it a fourth time!" cursed Steele.

He had entered the Great Asteroid Run many times before, and the power of his V-45's engines always guaranteed a win. Now he was up against the Alliance's latest fighter: the Dodonna/Blissex A-Wing fighter/interceptor. The A-Wing was faster and more maneuverable, but lacked the Canine Squadron's V-45 Super Shield. He always kept this shield recharging at maximum rate to protect him from asteroids but also slowed him down considerably. He had only one choice if he was going to win the race. He poured power from his shield and laser systems into his engines. He began to close on the A-Wing group ahead of him.
The leader saw Steele coming and tried the same trick, but the V-45 has 8 laser cannons with which to borrow energy from and Steele soared ahead. Once he was in front, Steele hit the `stop' switch. The A-Wings scrambled to get out of his way. A few of them crashed into the asteroids, others bounced off his shields. The pilots managed to eject in time. Steele grinned as he returned power to his engines.

"Steele!" shouted the leader in the direction of Steele's ship.

Nikki, Kaltag, and Star flew by but he soon caught up. They won the race; for the fourth time. The Rebel Alliance all watched as they flew into the hanger of the Rebel flagship Independence.

They were awarded by Mon Mothma; leader of the Alliance. Four shiny gold medals, one for each of them. Then Steele did what he always did after a successful mission: boast. He always did it within earshot of two other Canines, Captain Jenna who was an ace Y-Wing pilot, and Lieutenant Balto, a novice A-Winger with enough skill to get him through the few missions he had been assigned to.

Balto wasn't really trusted in the Alliance. His father, a wolf from Canis, had betrayed his squadron and joined the Empire, resulting in the deaths of four hundred Canines aboard a Rebel cruiser. Balto's father had given the location of the cruiser to the Empire, who wasted no time in dispatching Assault Gunboats. Unfortunately, his father was killed in the attack.

Jenna was, Steele thought, the most beautiful Canine of them all. Sure there was Sylvie, who was a communications officer on the Nebulon B Frigate Nome, and Dixie, who had joined the Canine Heavy Cruiser Nenana's B-Wing squadron, but he knew they both had `little schoolgirl' crushes on him. He preferred the more aggressive type. Jenna was in charge of her own squadron: Husky Unit. They were one of the top ten fighter squadrons along with Red squadron and Rogue squadron. She had even beaten him in a one-on-one dogfight in one of the simulators.

"Never again," he told himself, shaking his head.

He saw his opportunity. She was just leaving. He nodded to his squadron as he left to follow Jenna. He called to her in the main hallway.

"Hey Jenna," he called.

She turned around and tried hard to smile," Oh hi Steele. Congrats on winning the race."

"Thanks. Say, let's go celebrate. I'll buy you a drink," suggested Steele.

"No thanks, I'm still on duty."

"Duty?"

"Yeah. I have to get to number four hanger to test another of the Alliance's new fighters. Maybe another time. If you're lucky," she finished, under her breath.

He watched as she walked away. Not only was she a worthy opponent (and ally), but she had a nice tail too! He turned and headed towards his quarters.

Balto had watched the whole thing from the upper platform. He leaned over the railing after Steele offered to buy Jenna a drink, then relaxed as she refused. He knew she was off duty. She was just tired of being followed around by Steele all the time. Balto saw his chance to talk to her. She had said "hi" a few times but nothing more.
"Somehow," Balto thought " she knows I'm not a traitor."

Balto slipped under the railing and landed in front of Jenna. She gasped.

"Sorry to startle you Jenna but I..."

"Captain!" called a voice.

It was General Doc, from the Canine Heavy Cruiser Nenanna. Jenna turned to face him.

"Yes sir," said Jenna.

"You're needed in hanger six right away. Your Y-Wing's been sabotaged."

"Oh no!" cried Jenna.

She glanced at Balto, but he had disappeared. She glanced down a corridor then ran to catch up with the General.

Balto flew his A-Wing to his father's ship; an old Canis Light Frigate, the Trawler. He docked in the small, four ship hanger and climbed out of his cockpit. He was greeted by his two-bear maintenance crew, Muk and Luk, both from the planet Therma. They had their own fighters, odd spherical ships with three guns, missile launchers, and a moderately fast engine. They sat parked next to Balto's craft. Both ships were gutted; the two were obviously trying to boost the engine system again. He waved to them then went to his quarters. He had the largest room on the ship. Balto went to his sleeping chamber and flopped down on his bed. He picked up a picture of his parents. His father was a black wolf and his mother was a grey and white husky.

This was another reason why Balto was not trusted. On his planet cross-breeding was illegal, and hybrids were considered treacherous. The fact that his father had betrayed his own kind made Balto's shame even worse. He remembered all the times Steele and his squadron had made fun of him, or the many times they had messed with the flight schedule or spoken with Balto's superiors to make sure Balto never rose from escorting convoys of garbage scows. He dropped the picture on the floor and rolled on his back. There was a beeping from the next room. he got up and pressed the `answer' button on his communications console. It was Boris, on the bridge of the Trawler.

"How are you Balto?" asked Boris.

Balto smiled. Boris was his oldest and dearest friend. Before the Canines had joined the Alliance, he and Boris were in the Royal Canis Navy. Now he had gotten Boris promoted to Captain and given him command of the Trawler.

"I'm fine. Just a little tired."

"Did you talk with Jenna today?"

"No. Not today," said Balto. His ears drooped down.

"Don't fret fido! You'll get your chance soon. She'll learn just how special you really are!"

Balto always got embarrassed when Boris talked about him and Jenna getting together," Nah. She's not my type."

"Why not? This wolf business again? Hah! Sometimes I wish like crazy I was half eagle!"

"Why?" laughed Balto.

"Better profile for one thing," said Boris," And I'd fly better too!"

It was ten minutes before Balto had to attend a briefing. Balto hung his head slightly as he walked. Another escort mission! He was walking down a hallway when a door slid open and a group of Canines, humans, Mon Calamari, and other species began to emerge. Balto spotted Jenna. She looked upset. He walked over to her.

"What's the matter, Jenna?" he asked.

She looked up," Oh, Balto. Hi. It's nothing." She turned away from him and began to shake.

Balto walked in front of her and saw that she was crying," What is it?"

"There is a terrible plague on the planet Earth. My adoptive mother is there and she was one of the first to get sick."

"Mother?" asked Balto.

"Yes. I was on a space cruiser when it was attacked. It crashed on Earth. Only a few of us survived. I was one of them. I was only a pup then. A teenage girl named Rosy took me to live with her and her family. She raised me like a little sister, but I always thought of her as my mother."

"I... I had no idea. I'm sorry if I upset you. I didn't mean for you to have to tell me that."

"No," she said. She hugged him," I'm glad you did. It was good to let it go."

Then Steele appeared from the crowd, " Well well, what's wrong with this picture?"

"Steele!" gasped Jenna.

Balto gritted his teeth. Why did Steele have to show up now!

"Jenna, join me for diner? I'll take you to that nice new Sullustan restaurant." Then he looked at Balto," No hybrids allowed!"

Balto felt his back hairs sticking up," Alright Steele!" He clenched his fists.

"No. Balto!" said Jenna. She walked slowly over to Steele," You're offer sounds so tempting."

"It is!" said Steele.

"But I don't really like Sullustan food. It makes my stomach flip."

And with that she stuck out her foot and pushed Steele over it. He fell to the deck and rolled over.

"That's one way to train 'em," said Jenna.

"Nice move," said Balto.

Then three security guards showed up," Alright, what's going on here?"

Steele acted severely injured," It was that hybrid! He just attacked me!"

"Alright... Lieutenant. I'm afraid you'll have to come with us."

"But I..."

The guards pulled Balto away before he or Jenna could utter a word. He had sat in the brig for only half an hour before he was released," Captain Jenna gave us all the details.