"Do you think it got a reading on us," asked Star.

"I hope not," said Nikki. They continued their way through the asteroid field.

A few hours later, an alarm went off in Star's ship.

"Enemy Star Destroyer at ten kilometers!" he shouted.

"They're launching fighters!" said Kaltag.

"Dang!" cursed Steele," Increase speed!"

The ships picked up speed. The TIE Fighters were closing fast. They were now only eight kilometers away.

"How many fighters do you read, Star?" asked Nikki.

Star looked at his tactical display," Five TIE Fighters, and six Interceptors."

"Great," said Kaltag," I hate TIE Interceptors!"

"Wait," said Star," I'm picking up Assault Gunboats at two o'clock high, four kilometers away. Another two-point-five kilometers and we'll be within targeting range of their missiles!"

"They won't fire missiles in this asteroid field," said Steele," Who will arrive first, Star?"

"The TIE's will get here in four minutes and sixteen seconds, the Gunboats in.... one-oh-five."

"Kaltag, intercept the Gunboats. Nikki, you go after the TIE's."

"Roger," said Kaltag.

The two split up as Steele and Star continued on towards the other side of the asteroid field. Nikki ran into the fighters and managed to destroy two upon interception.

Kaltag did take two missiles; originally three had been fired but his anti-missile cannon dealt with the third one. He fed one gunboat three rockets and finished it off with his laser cannons. The three other gunboats broke formation and began to circle Kaltag, except for one that headed for Steele and Star. Kaltag destroyed another gunboat and then, realizing that the other gunboat had gotten through, flew to get it. The fourth gunboat continuously fired Concussion Missiles into his rear shields but they held firm. Kaltag locked onto the distant gunboat as it fired a salvo of missiles at Steele. Kaltag fired a few rockets then turned to face his antagonist. The laser cannons destroyed the gunboat and the rockets severely damaged the other. It still remained on course as the pilot redirected energy from his laser systems to recharge his shields.

Nikki had destroyed three TIE Interceptors and was chasing a TIE Fighter when he slammed into a small asteroid. His front shields dropped to medium level and Nikki adjusted both front and back shields to compensate. The recharge rate for the Wolf-Wing's shields was very stubborn. The fighter was once again in his sights and he fired. The un-shielded TIE exploded, lighting up the darkened asteroids. Three laser blasts hit his low shields. His shield guage read 32%. Nikki pulled an evasive maneuver and came up on the three fighters that had shot at him. The fighters were trying to group into formation in able to get a decent attack on Nikki's superior ship. Nikki linked his guns and blasted the TIE's out of formation. The skies were clear. He flew back towards the others. Then a warning light went off. His sensors detected five Skipray Blastboats launching from the Star Destroyer. Once the large fighters had been launched, the Star Destroyer entered hyperspace. It would return later to collect its fighters after news of the battle's end had reached it.

"Oh no!" gasped Nikki.

Kaltag had destroyed the gunboat. Another wave was coming in, faster this time. He took little damage this time but two of the gunboats got past him now and they were moving like greased lightning. The two others were firing double sets of missiles into his shields; his gun working frantically to take down as many as possible. His shields were dropping fast. 60%, 50%, 40%. He had to break away. The two gunboats were right on him. He buzzed an asteroid. One of the gunboats couldn't get out of the way in time and crashed into the spinning rock. The other turned away from Kaltag. Kaltag then turned back to his primary targets. He locked on and fired enough rockets to damage a Corellian Corvette. They hit dead on and both gunboats were destroyed. The fourth one was taken out soon after.

Nikki let his rockets do the talking. One of the blastboats was hit and pulled away. The other five kept firing at Nikki. He passed them and turned around. They had kept going, straight towards the `convoy'. He fired lasers and rockets but had very little luck. The blastboats were evading the shots and their turrets were manned and they were shooting down his rockets. Nikki fired his lasers again and destroyed one of them. The three turrets were pointed at him and they were doing damage to his shields. The V-45's shields are hard to bring down if they are above 40%. Once they drop below that, they weaken. Nikki's shields were now down to 20%. He pulled up and lost them behind a big asteroid.

He increased his speed and then dove down once the asteroid has passed. They were right in front of him. He fired his lasers and destroyed two targets. The last one was within range of the convoy. It fired missiles and torpedoes at Star and Steele. They hit dead on and Nikki's computer showed them both at 56%. Nikki fired all eight of his lasers in linked mode. The blastboat's shields dropped to 10% and it pulled up. Nikki went after it. It came around again and fired another volley of missiles at Steele. His shields dropped to 47%. The blastboat's shields failed and the craft exploded after one of Nikki's rockets hit it. Nikki saw a few torpedoes heading toward the convoy. He tried to shoot some of them with rockets but he only got three; also by using his anti-missile cannon. The rest hit Steele and Star's ships. Their shields were down to 10%. Then the fifth blastboat; the one that Nikki had though to have bugged out, flew by and used its ion cannons to disable Steele and Star. They were dead in space.

Kaltag destroyed the thirteenth gunboat to arrive and hoped that it was the end of them. It was. He flew back to the convoy, only to find it disabled.

"What happened?" he asked.

"Some TIE Bombers got past me and shot torpedoes at Steele and Nikki. Then a Skipray Blastboat disabled them. They're all toast though," said Nikki.

"Nice job you two!" shouted Steele, sarcastically.

"What are we gonna do now Steele?" asked Star.

Balto felt like he was the last person to hear anything. Steele was due on Earth two days ago and he hadn't showed up.

"The last thing Juneau Station reported was a Star Destroyer in the sector," said Jenna.

She and Dixie were on their break. Jenna had decided to treat them both to dinner on board the Independence.

"Maybe they were attacked?" suggested Dixie as she put her fork in her mouth.

"That wouldn't do much," said Jenna," Steele's a jerk but I admit that he's a good pilot."

Dixie hummed and nodded. Balto, who had been sitting at the table behind them, lowered his ears and turned his attention back to his meal. His comlink beeped. Balto pressed the receive button and spoke into it," Yes, what is it?"

"We're ready," Boris' voice came clearly through the comlink.

"I'll be there shortly," said Balto.

He turned his ears back to Jenna and picked up the last of their conversation," I'm going to check with General Doc before I jump to any conclusions."

They both got up and left. Balto dropped a few credits on the table and slid out of his seat. He left the restaurant from the another exit and began to make his way to Doc's office. He peered around the corner and watched Jenna meet with the General as he emerged from his room. He could barely hear what was being said," They've missed their second checkpoint and we've heard nothing from any of the group. I can only expect the worst."

"Can't we send another squadron?" asked Jenna.

"I tried that," said Doc," The medicine is as rare as the disease. And the Hutts are offering it at six times its worth! Dirty gangsters!"

"Well... thank you anyway General," said Jenna. She walked quickly down the hall and right past Balto. He tried to think of something to say to her but the look on her face made him change his mind. Instead, he made another decision.

"This is the Trawler requesting permission to break formation from the fleet," Balto said into the communicator.

"Trawler this is Independence. What is the purpose of your departure?" the voice came through Balto's speaker.

"I have requested a two week leave of absence and I'm taking it now," said Balto.

"Very well. Break off and proceed cautiously," said the voice.

"Roger."

The old frigate turned away from the main part of the fleet and prepared to enter hyperspace. All systems had been checked. Balto pulled back the hyperspace activation lever and watched as the stars streaked into lines.

Jenna had just gotten out of the shower and was sitting by her window, brushing her long rust-coloured fur when a bright flash caught her eye. She looked, but all she could see was the glow from the Trawler's four bright blue engines. She thought for a moment and then grabbed for a NotePadd. She recorded the trajectory on the small computer and then watched as the ship disappeared into hyperspace. She ran to her bedroom and put on her flight suit. Jenna then plugged the coordinates into her computer and looked at the list of possible destinations:

Kashyyyk
Sullust
Tatooine
Jupiter
Corellia

Jenna turned her chair toward the window," Jupiter!" she gasped.

Balto thought that the best place to look for Steele's squadron was where they had been seen last. Juneau Station, Jupiter; the Milky Way Galaxy. He greeted the station and then continued on towards the asteroid field that separated Jupiter from Mars and the rest of the Terrestrial Planets.