fighter. He quickly got into the cockpit and began the startup procedure.

Meanwhile, Steele was powering up and prepared to attack. He eased his ship ahead and began to turn to face Balto. Now Balto was really wishing he had missiles. He was a very smart Canine and he hadn't repaired Steele's rocket or missile launchers. All that happened was a shower of sparks flying out of Steele's missile tubes as the launchers melted.

Balto grinned and hit his throttle switch. He zoomed out of Steele's field of view before Steele had a chance to fire his laser cannons. Balto looked behind him; around his A-Wing's engine cowling, and saw Steele turning around. Balto knew he had to fight it out, here and now. He turned and let loose a volley of laser blasts. Steele fired as well while flying straight for Balto. Balto pulled out of the way and narrowly avoided colliding with Steele. He scanned the area for any sign of Steele's ship, but he could detect nothing. He did a U-turn and returned to the rest of the convoy.

The other three fighters were still waiting. Star, who had turned on his comm-unit, spoke first," What happened to Steele?"

"I don't know, he just disappeared," said Balto.

"Look out behind you!" shouted Nikki.

Balto looked and saw Steele coming at him at full speed. His lasers began blazing. Balto took multiple hits but managed to get away. He had the advantage of maneuverability over Steele and it was no challenge for him to keep his antagonist in his sights. Steele came at him again, this time using his tractor beam to hold Balto in place. Balto was stuck. The tractor beam had been modified to tow a cargo container, and his fighter was an easy target. Steele smiled as he prepared to press the firing button. Balto knew he couldn't get away, but he still had one trick. Balto shut off his engines and turned to face Steele; relying on his maneuvering thrusters. He turned to face Steele and began firing. Now it was a test to see who's shields would fail first. Steele's stronger shields gave him an advantage, but since he hadn't had the time to fully recharge them they were now as weak as Balto's.

Balto didn't even look at his shield display. He concentrated on keeping Steele in his sights. All of his shots hit their mark; but so did Steele's. He gritted his teeth in an attempt to somehow add power to his lasers but it did little good. It seemed as though as no one would win, but then something on Steele's ship blew out. The lasers stopped firing and the tractor beam lost its lock. Balto let a few more shots go then watched as Steele's fighter began to belch black smoke.

Steele screamed as sparks flew out of his control panels. Shards of glass flew at him as his targeting computer and shield displays exploded. His ship began to drift backwards and soon became lost in the asteroid field. Balto sighed and flew beside Kaltag.

"We'll have to leave that container," said Balto," I don't have a tractor beam."

"What a waste," said Nikki.

"I hope this will be enough," said Star, motioning towards the container behind him.

"It'll have to be," said Balto.

Balto took the lead position as the others joined in formation around him.

Steele pulled wires out of his remaining control panels and twisted them together, ignoring the small electrical shocks he was receiving. He was trying to channel power from any system to his engines and maneuvering thrusters. It took half an hour but he managed to get 1/3 power. He limped his ship out of the asteroid field and towards the location of the Rebel fleet. He hoped that his hyperdrive was still working. Steele closed his eyes as the stars turned to lines around him. He breathed out a sigh of relief.

"Thanks for holding together old girl," said Steele.

Balto was having trouble with the rest of the flight group.

"I still don't think we should follow Balto. What if we get in trouble?" said Star," You know what they say about hybrids."

"Maybe we were better with Steele, dere," said Nikki.

"No!," said Balto," I'm just as good a leader as Steele, and just as reliable... er... as any other fighter pilot in the Rebellion! I can get that medicine through."

The others remained quiet. They now emerged from the asteroid field and began their approach to Earth. The trip would take approximately one day. That was a lot of time to stay quite. Balto hoped he could convince the others that he was as good and loyal and true as any other Canine. He doubted he would be successful, but managed to work up the courage to speak.....

Steele emerged from hyperspace a few kilometers from the fleet. Escort fighters, Alliance X-Wings, changed course to intercept him. After verifying his ID, two of them escorted him to the Independence. He was found in his cockpit, bleeding from his cuts and scrapes from the small explosions in his cockpit, and burned from them as well as from the electric shocks. He was taken immediately to the infirmary where; after being immersed in a bacta tank, Steele made a complete recovery aside from a few small scars. Then the thing came that Steele had planned for during his two hour hyperspace journey: the debriefing.

He sat in a room with General Doc, Admiral Ackbar, and two other high-ranking officers. He began to describe what happened, " After acquiring the medicine we proceeded to travel through the asteroid field. We encountered an Imperial probe and after destroying it we were attacked by an Imperial Star Destroyer, its fighters, and multiple Assault Gunboats. Commander's Nikki and Kaltag proceeded to intercept the attackers. That's when that hybrid, Lieutenant Balto showed up."

"Balto?" asked Doc," Are you sure?"

"He even had the nerve to announce his presence! While Nikki and Kaltag were busy attacking the Imperials, the Lieutenant took his opportunity to try to take me out. He must have mistaken my ruse with death. I barely managed to make it back. I have no idea what the present condition of the convoy is at this point in time."

"Oh, I see," said Doc.

"I recommend we send a search party to find the convoy and help it continue its mission," suggested Admiral Ackbar.

"I agree. I'll personally lead the team in my ship," said Doc.He was eager to get the Nenana back in action.

"With all due respect, sir, you'll be wasting your time," said Steele," Balto probably destroyed the others and ran off with the Empire. Just like his father did."

"Maybe you're right, Captain," said Ackbar.

"There may still be a chance," said Doc, "Request permission to take the Nenana, White Wolf, and Iditerod to search for the convoy."

"Permission granted," said Ackbar, "Good luck, and may the Force be with you!"

After signing out, Steele returned to the Independence and took a look at his fighter. It was mostly black with burn marks. The lasers had blown off, melted metal was visible on the brims of his missile launchers, and his cockpit was still smoking. He put his hand on the fuselage and stood for a moment remembering all the great missions he had flown in his ship. He shook his head and walked towards the closest eating establishment.

Boris, Muk, Luk, and Jenna were all there. Jenna was trying to explain to the others what had happened and that Balto had gone to try to find the lost convoy.

"Yeah," interrupted Steele," So he could destroy it!"

"Steele," gasped some of the others there.

"You're back!"

"Where've ya been?"

"Are you okay?"

Steele began to tell his story for the second time. When he was finished, he scanned the crowd. Some of the people were smiling at his wit at escaping, some had looks of shock on their faces, but Jenna just stared at him. She stood up, walked up to Steele, and stared him right in the eye.

"You're lying!" she said.

The group gasped.

She turned to them," Steele's lying. Balto's no traitor. He must have rescued the convoy by now. He's on his way home."

With that she left, followed by Muk, Luk, and Boris.

"Well, you all must have know how she felt about Balto," said Steele," She just needs a little time."

The others nodded and muttered agreements.

Jenna looked out one of the windows of Balto's quarters aboard the Trawler. She had found the picture of Balto's parents and had spent a bit of time looking at it. She sat beside the window with a comm-link next to her. She was glad to have a friend in high places. She had asked Sylvie to monitor all transmissions for any information on the missing convoy. Her lap was wet from tears, although she had stopped crying over twenty minutes ago. She looked around the room once again. She still loved the pictures hanging on the wall of places she had once visited on Canis. Her favorite was one of the Great Northern Lights. Their mix of blues, reds, and other bright colours always made her miss home. She especially loved the many sculptures on various tables and shelves throughout the room. She was surprised to find the name Balto carved on some of them. They were beautiful! She had never known this side of Balto before. She had realized that not all people are what they seem on the outside, rather it's what's inside that counts. She glanced out the window once more. The frigate Nome glided into view. Jenna looked down at the comm-link, then back out into space," Balto."

"What the.....?" shouted Balto.

His sensors were going crazy. Two Imperial frigates had just emerged from hyperspace less than six kilometers away. They were being escorted by four Corellian Corvettes; these ones were Assassin-Class and had already launched some fighters. The frigates had launched a total of