Luke was trying to pick the assault team out of the glowing gases below when

Blue Leader's voice sounded over the communicator.

"Blue Five, this is Blue Leader. Move into position, Luke. Start your attack

run—stay low and wait until you're right on top of it. It's not going to be easy."

"Are you all right?"

"They're on top of me—but I'll shake them."

"Blue Five to Blue pack," Luke ordered, "let's go!" The three ships peeled off

and plunged toward the trench sector.

Meanwhile Vader finally succeeded in hitting his quarry, a glancing bolt that

nonetheless started small, intense explosions in one engine. Its R-2 unit scrambled

back toward the damaged wing and struggled to repair the crippled power plant.

"R-2, shut off the main feed to number-one starboard engine," Blue Leader

directed quietly, staring resignedly at instruments which were running impossibilities.

"Hang on tight, this could get rough."

Luke saw that Blue Leader was in trouble. "We're right above you, Blue

Leader," he declared. "Turn to point oh five, and we'll cover for you."

"I've lost my upper starboard engine," came the reply.

"We'll come down for you."

"Negative, negative. Stay there and get set up for your attack run."

"You're sure you're all right?"

"I think so…Stand by for a minute."

Actually, it was somehow less than a minute before Blue Leader's gyrating X-

wing plowed into the surface of the station. Luke watched the huge explosion

dissipate below him, knowing without question its cause, sensing fully for the first

time the helplessness of his situation. "We just lost Blue Leader," he murmured

absently, not particularly caring if his mike picked up the somber announcement.

On Yavin Four, Leia Organa rose from her chair and nervously began pacing the

room. Normally perfect nails were now jagged and uneven from nervous chewing.

It was the only indication of physical unease. The anxiety visible in her expression

was far more revealing of her feelings, and anxiety and worry that filled the war room

on the announcement of Blue Leader's death.

"Can they go on?" she finally asked Dodonna.

The general replied with gentle resolve. "They must."

"But we've lost so many. Without Blue or Red Leader, how will they

regroup?"

Dodonna was about to reply, but held his words as more critical ones sounded

over the speaker.

"Close it up, Wedge," Luke was saying, thousands of kilometers away. "Biggs,

where are you?"

"Coming right behind you."

Wedge replied soon after. "Okay, Boss, we're in position."

Dodonna's gaze went to Leia. He looked concerned.

The three X-wings moved close together high above the battle station's surface.

Luke studied his instruments and fought irritably with one control that appeared to be

malfunctioning.

Someone's voice sounded in his ears. It was a young-old voice, a familiar voice:

calm, content, confident, and reassuring—a voice he had listened to intently on the

desert of Tatooine and in the guts of the station below, once upon a time.

"Trust your feelings, Luke," was all the Kenobi-like voice said.

Luke tapped his helmet, unsure whether he had heard anything or not. This was

no time for introspection. The steely horizon of the station tilted behind him.

"Wedge, Biggs, we're going in," he hold his wingmen. "We'll go in full speed.

Never mind finding the trench and then accelerating. Maybe that will keep those

fighters far enough behind us."

"We'll stay far enough back to cover you," Biggs declared. "At that speed will

you be able to pull out in time?"

"Are you kidding?" Luke sneered playfully as they began their dive toward the

surface. "It'll be just like Beggars Canyon back home."

"I'm right with you, boss," noted Wedge, emphasizing the title for the first time.

"Let's go…"

at high speed the three slim fighters charged the glowing surface, pulling out

after the last moment. Luke skimmed so close over the station hull that the tip of

one wing grazed a protruding antenna, sending metal splinters flying. Instantly they

were enveloped in a meshwork of energy bolts and explosive projectiles. It

intensified as they dropped down into the trench.

"We seemed to have upset them," Biggs chortled, treating the deadly display of

energy as though it were all a show being put on for their amusement.

"This is fine," Luke commented, surprised at the clear view ahead. "I can see

everything."

Wedge wasn't quite as confident as he studied his own readouts. "My scope

shows the tower, but I can't make out the exhaust port. It must be awfully small.

Are you sure the computer can target it?"

"It better," Biggs muttered.

Luke didn't offer an evaluation—he was too busy holding a course through the

turbulence produced by exploding bolts. Then, as if on command, the defensive fire

ceased. He glanced around and up for sign of the expected Tie fighters, but saw

nothing.

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