Ext. Star Destroyer comes in from top right hand corner of screen, fires at damaged freighter.
Squadron of X-Wings appear out of hyperdrive on freighter’s port bow heading for destroyer.
Int. X-Wing cockpit, pilot’s eye view of situation.
Pilot adjusting controls, preparing for battle.
Artoo unit trilling information to pilot.
Hawkspar (very surprised): Star Destroyer! I see them. (flicks a switch above her) Omega Squadron, Lock S-foils in attack position! Standby for orders!
(flicks second switch) Richlo’s Rest, this is Knight Leader, do you copy?
Richlo: (lots of static) Knight Leader, this is the Richlo’s Rest... thank the Fates...
Hawkspar: What’s your status?
Richlo: (static) Number three engine is gone, number two is damaged. My engineers are rigging enough power through numbers one and four to make the jump. But those TIEs are adding to the problems and we can’t outrun that Destroyer for much longer.
Hawkspar (grinning bleakly): Roger, Richlo. How long do you need?
Richlo: Not long...
Hawkspar: Roger, we’ll give you what we can. Just hang on (flicks switch)
Knight Leader to all wings, attack pattern serpentine! Attack pattern serpentine! The Richlo’s wounded but not crippled. We need to buy enough time for her to make the jump!
Kal’Ten: Copy that Revered Leader.
Edraa: Copied that. Breaking now.
Int. Star Destroyer bridge. Tall, slender man in Black Imperial Uniform with no markings standing at front, staring at a tactical display screen. Looks like typical handsome-but-sinister style evildoer; black hair, dark blue eyes, short beard.
Martellon (cold): Will it work Captain?
Drenn: The engineers have assured me that it will Sir. They tell me that the device is ready, should you care to make the order...
(Martellon slowly looking up from screen as Drenn is speaking.)
Martellon: Activate the GLEAN device.
(Looks back at tactical display showing projected flight pattern of X-Wings)
Drenn (quietly): They are forming into some kind of coil pattern, Sir.
Ext. Battle scene. X-Wings breaking off to two flights, corkscrewing upwards. Hawkspar and wingman stay in centre of pattern.
TIEs split up to follow, battle begins.
Half TIEs in battle but half stay to harry the Richlo.
Hawkspar: Knight Two, fall to centre! Watch our six. Something’s not right here!
Kal’Ten: Copied!
Hawkspar: Knight Three, keep you eyes peeled!
Edraa: Copied, boss!
Hawkspar: Richlo, how long?
Richlo: Five minutes, Knight Leader. Maybe ten.
Hawkspar: Roger, Richlo, jump when you’re ready. Don’t wait for us! Safe home!
Int. Richlo’s bridge.
First Off. Baccart: Copied, Knight Leader. And you.
(Turning to tactical officer) Keep your eyes on that Destroyer! Let me know the minute it gets into firing range!
Patnin: Aye, Sir.
Baccart sits back in his chair and gnaws at a fingernail.
Ext. Battle scene. TIEs being decimated, two X-wings lost.
Int. Kal’Ten’s X-Wing. Lining up TIE for a shot. Attention wanders to Destroyer. Two TIE Squadrons and one lone Interceptor pour out of the hangars.
Kal’Ten (shocked): Boss! Incoming!
Hawkspar: Incoming! Incoming! All wings form up!
Int. Interceptor cockpit.
Martellon: Squadron Two, take one side of the coil shape, and split the two halves. Squadron Three, take the trailing coil, and attack from the rear, heading towards Two. Crush them between you.
Ext. Battle Scene. X-Wings and TIEs joined. Interceptor lining up X-Wing for shot.
Mon Calamari cruiser drops out of hyperspace near the destroyer.
Int. Interceptor cockpit.
Martellon (quietly): The GLEAN works better than I thought. This will be a quick victory.
Int. Richlo’s Bridge.
Patnin (voice quavering): Sir? (Baccart turns to Patnin, look of consternation his face)
The Destroyer is in range! (Baccart nods slowly)
(Patnin confused by display) Sir, it’s turning away!
Baccart jumps up and crosses to display.
Baccart: Where?
Patnin: Towards the cruiser.
Baccart flips com switch.
Baccart: Clar, what sort of manoeuvring power can you give me?
Clar (hesitant): How much do you need?
Baccart: Ramming Speed.
Bridge crew glancing at eat other with numb acceptance.
Clar: You’ll have it, Sir.
Baccart: Attention Watch Stations, this is the First Officer. An Imperial Star Destroyer has just overtaken us and I intend to do something about it! Fill the escape pods with as many people as you can. A Mon Calamari cruiser has just dropped out of hyperspace, she’ll pick you up. Safe home! It’s been an honour!
(Flicks a second switch)
All hands, Abandon ship! All hands, Abandon ship!
Int. X-Wing cockpit.
Richlo: Knight Leader, this is the Richlo.
Hawkspar (destroys a TIE.): Richlo. Go!
Baccart: We’re lost here. I’m abandoning ship. But we’ve still got a trick up our sleeves.
Edraa: Boss! One on your tail!
Hawkspar: Aw Hells. I don’t have time for this.
(To com)
Where? I can’t see him.
Edraa: Left on my mark, Boss, to... point three two eight! Ready, ready.... Mark!
Ext. First X-Wing pulls to left in front of TIE. TIE passes in front of second X-Wing which fires. TIE explodes.
Int. X-Wing Cockpit.
Home Two: Knight Leader, Home Two, do you copy?
Hawkspar: Home Two, I copy. Go!
Home Two: Abort. Abort. We are in position. Abort. Abort.
Hawkspar (sighs): Roger that Home Two. I think the Richlo’s up to something.
Home Two: Copied.
Hawkspar: All wings, fall back! All wings, fall back!
Ext. Three X-wings try to pull out ahead of her and are picked off in quick succession by a TIE Interceptor.
Interceptor gets a lock on Hawkspar’s X-Wing.
Int. Interceptor cockpit.
Martellon (grinning): You’re good. But not good enough.
(Notice Target painted on back of X-Wing)
What the...? (grin drops and look of absolute hatred appears.)
Ext. Hawkspar’s X-Wing slews away from the Interceptor.
Interceptor peels off attack.
Int. Richlo’s Bridge. Baccart in chair watching screen with worried expression.
Clar: Engineering to Bridge. You have half light speed.
Baccart: Thank you. Run the engines up then abandon ship.
Clar: Aye, Sir!
Baccart (looking around bridge): Get to your escape pods.
Patnin and Grame stand to face Baccart.
Grame: With all due respect, Sir, we’ll stay. (grinning) I’d like to know that the Richlo’s Rest actually hit the Destroyer.
Baccart (icily): Are you questioning my ability as a pilot, Mr. Thoft?
Grame (grin wider): No, Sir, just your navigation...
Patnin (seriously): If the Destroyer starts firing on us, you’ll need help.
Jed: Sir, the Home Two is calling.
Baccart: Answer them, Jed. Let them know what we’re going to do. Then get to the escape pod. That’s an order!
Jed: Yes, Sir!
Baccart (to Patnin and Grame): Well don’t just stand there! Plot a course!
Ext. Battle scene. Edraa’s wing with TIE tailing.
Int. X-Wing cockpit.
Edraa: Not good…Definitely not good! Damn it, get off my tail!
(hits com switch) Boss! I’ve got problems here!
Int. X-Wing cockpit.
Hawkspar: I see it! Hold on!
Ext. Battle Scene. Kaz’s X-wing moves to help Edraa. Can see Destroyer, Mon Cal cruiser and Richlo through Starboard window of cockpit.
Destroyer moving in on Cruiser, Richlo moving in on Destroyer.
Int. Mon Cal bridge. Notrahw sitting in command chair watching battle, back to audience. Crew at stations.
Notrahw: Get them out of there!
Com.Off : Knight Leader, Home Two, pull back now! Acknowledge! Pull back now!
Hawkspar (short): Home Two, stand by!
Notrahw (mutters): Damn it, Commander!
Ext. Battle scene. Omega Squadron down to 3 Wings. TIEs to one and a half Squadrons plus Interceptor.
Int. Kal’Ten’s X-Wing. Pilot’s view of battle. Pulls round to join Edraa and Hawkspar.
Hawkspar: Xen, turn left on my mark, point three nine one!
Edraa: Roger!
Kal’Ten (mutters): Hells!
(Fighter comes round behind Hawkspar’s Wing) Kaz! Watch your six!
Int. Hawkspar’s Cockpit.
Hawkspar (mutters): Not now! (to com.) On my mark, Xen... steady... Now!
Ext. Xen pulls up through her sights, the TIEs following. Kaz fires, ignoring her own situation as she keeps the lead TIE in her cross hairs. The Imperial fighter explodes spectacularly. The second TIE hits the wreckage and tumbles away from Edraa’s X-wing, obviously out of control.
Int. Pilot’s view from Hawkspar’s cockpit.
Hawkspar: Xen, fall back!
(Pilot’s view of Edraa’s X-Wing judders under fire from a TIE)
Int. Mon Cal bridge. First full view of Vice-Admiral Notrahw.
Dressed in full Uniform, he is dark skinned Mon Calamari. Watching battle with look of determination.
Com.Off: (Looks round at Notrahw) Should I try again, Sir?
Notrahw: (shaking his head) They’re busy. Leave them to it.
Tact.Off: Sir, if they get caught in the explosion...
Notrahw: (Rounding on Tactical Off. Look of mixed anger and sorrow) Their only hope of getting out of this alive is the destruction of the Star Destroyer. If they try to pull back to us, the Imperials will pick them off - a point that has been quite ably demonstrated.
You can see that Commander Hawkspar has no intention of turning tail and running if it means leaving the X-wings open to attack.
Com.Off: Should I warn them...?
Notrahw: (looks at battle) Too late.
Ext. Battle scene. Richlo’s Rest rams the massive Star Destroyer amidships, crushing her bridge and upper decks, the impact almost snapping the Imperial ship in two.
(FX team)
Int. Mon Cal bridge. Screen snows as blast reaches ship, then clears.
Notrahw: (Slaps Intercom switch.) All stations, alert status blue! Lets get the survivors onboard!
Ext. Wake of Destroyer explosion. Interceptor caught in shock wave and sent reeling into space.
Int. Interceptor cockpit. Martellon fights for control and wins but ship too damaged to get back to base.
Martellon: Life support - minimal, Weapons - gone, Flight Controls - almost completely useless. Fuel minimal.
(Slow, sarcastic grin appears on his face) The only way back is to be rescued! Weak-minded fools.
(Closes his eyes to wait.)
Int. Hawkspar’s cockpit.
Hawkspar: All wings report in.
Kal’Ten (coughing): Knight Two, standing by! (Coughs again) Just!
Hawkspar: (Waits listening to silence) All wings report in!
(Silence)
(Checks targeting comp. then quietly, disbelieving) No! Goddess, please no! Not again!
Edraa: (static) Boss. . .
Hawkspar: Xen. . .?
(no reply)
Lainy, can you see her?
Kal’Ten: Negative. No... wait... point four... six two! Looks like she’s drifting!
Ext. Hawkspar and Kal’Ten both head towards Edraa’s Wing.
Hawkspar: Home Two, this is Knight leader, Knight Three is in trouble and drifting!"
Home Two: Copied Knight leader. Do you have co-ordinates?
Kal’Ten: Point four six two,
Home Two: Copied. Stand by!
Ext. Cruiser picks up X-Wings and lone Interceptor.
Jumps to hyperspace.
~ * ~