PIETT'S FIRST TIE FIGHTER RUN
Written and submitted by Aaron Wee

Piett walked the entire length of his sleek, new TIE/ln fighter. Piett could almost see his Ensign insignia on the gleaming solar panels that laced the wings. He ran his hand down the cockpit, hoping that one day he would prove himself in battle.

Piett looked out from one of the transpisteel openings in the massive hangar of the VSD Integrity and into the vastness of space. A flight of the newer, more powerful TIE Interceptors raced pass him.

Another day, another mission. Piett thought Damn it! I should be out there!

Suddenly, the lead Interceptor burst into a ball of flames. The other fighters scrambled to avoid the burning wreckage. One of them slammed into the Integrity. Four slashes of glowing energy ripped through space and bounced on the remaining two Interceptors.

Piett struggled to make sense of it all. He traced the laser bolts to an entire wing of Rebel starfighters. Three squadrons of X-Wings, two squadrons of Y-Wings, and one squadron of A-Wings shot out of an asteroid in the Belt of Greuoi Bnassaa.

As soon as it had started, the alarms rang out and the order for all idle pilots to prepare for battle was given. Piett, hoping to prove himself worthy of the Empire, pushed his way through the crowd of Tech's and droids to the vacant TIE/ln. He got in and started the take-off sequence. Piett did not notice the red coloration on one of the wings. The 181st squadron took off, plus an Ensign.

The cockpit wrapped around Piett like a glove. It molded his back with a grip. Piett, at first, struggles with the gentle grip the TIE/ln requires, occasionally maneuvering too close for his wing leader's comfort. Piett's forte wasn't exactly TIE piloting.

Piett managed a glimpse at the Perseverance, a Nebulon-B frigate and the Skirmish, a bulk cruiser re-fitted to carry starfighters, the Integrity's escort ships. Piett could make out at least another three squadrons coming out of the escort ships.

Lasers flash and blossoming explosions greet the 181st as Piett attempts to catch up with the rest. But Piett's TIE was needed now. Without hesitation, Piett dived into the chaos of battle.

Piett slid right to bracket a Y-Wing with fire. Piett squeezes the trigger and just manages to graze the dome of its R2 unit. Piett snap-rolls to stay with the evading starfighter. After much maneuvering, Piett, on the 6th salvo, lands a quick barrage of laser fire straight at its power generator. Piett successfully escapes the wrecked rebel fighter.

Then as suddenly as it started, the battle was over. Half the Rebel wing had either been destroyed or damaged and the rest were limping back to base. There are no orders to pursue. Piett relaxes and casually maneuvers back to the hangar of the VSD. His first mission was over. Piett survived.

On the bridge all was quiet. The Rebels had performed a daring stunt. They had attempted a daring attack on an Imperial line. Commodore Jeriolt stood by a view port.

"Lieutenant......"

Lieutenant Garrolm Jesthio saluted faster than any time during his training. His voice still academy crisp.

"Yes sir?"

"Prepare all TIE squadrons for attack. Signal all ships to charge up their turbolasers. It is time to show the Rebels what we mean when we say 'the full might of the Empire'.

Jesthio risked a tight smile. The Commodore returned his gesture by the same manner.

The alarms rang again. This time the order was to attack. Piett stood by his TIE fighter.

Will this ever end? Piett thought I certainly hope not!

Piett re-started his engines and took off into space, following closely behind the 181st!