Cipher Ability.

[System]

<<Coms Speaking>>

"Talking"

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As both fighters reach even closer I switch the weaponry to the 30mm and begin firing the cannon as well as all of the missiles

In no time, the swarm of Tie Fighters notice the numerous missiles I launch including my squadron who follow suits and begin trying to split up to avoid them.

But soon some of them were hit by the missile as the scream echoed through the communications.

It brought joy to my very heart, hearing the enemy scream in terror. Even better when I hunt the enemy down like a predator.

<<Sir! The rebel's fleet are making an escape what should we do?>> Cipher said

<<...Let them be.>>

That's what I plan anyway, I destroy the interdictor class star destroyer not only because it has a weak hull, but to let the rebel's fleet have a chance to escape.

The more they escape, the better the reward I will receive. 

<<Since they are escaping, I want... to maximize the profit... while these empires are going to do whatever they can to destroy the rebel's fleet, we will destroy every single one of their ships first!>>

<<Yes!>>

With how much the empire focused their fighter on us, most of their bomber were completely vulnerable to attack which was a good thing for us. Which the rebels can easily handle since most of them are experienced in dealing with other fighters.

If they can't even handle a large squadron of bombers and tie fighters they might as well give up rebelling against the empire. 

So with that, another side quest should be complete as the notification shows that all empire bombers were destroyed, but just to be sure I should send Cipher to guard the rebel's fleet since they are making an escape.

Now the only thing we have to do is to guard the rebel's fleet escape and...

Complete annihilation of the empire fleet.

<<Trigger and Mobius 1 follow me and let's destroy another star destroyer, Cipher! Defend the rebel's fleet.>>

<<Understood>><<Yes!>><<Let's do this>>

Cipher then split up from us. And we quickly made our way to the 3 ships.

/

Cipher was not like Trigger, who felt joy from killing another human and excitement from risking her life to fight another day.

He was a knight.

And as a knight of the Round Table, honor was all he sought in battle—fighting for his country, even though, deep down, he knew he was nothing more than a dirty mercenary chasing after money.

Cipher's face grew calm, almost eerily serene. He scanned his surroundings, especially at the rebel's fleet that was currently being attacked by the Empire Star destroy and fighter

Cipher notices that he won't manage to arrive at the rebel's fleet without half of them destroyed, without any other choice he activates his ability.

With a subtle shift in his demeanor, a wave of energy radiated from him. The shift was palpable, and the enemy pilots felt it immediately—an invisible force that chilled them to their core.

<<I AM SCARED!!!>> <<H-Help! D-don't kill me!>> 

Desperation filled the enemy comms, their fear was uncontrollable. All fighters that were flying all over the space were momentarily stopped.

This was one of Cipher's skills. The more he killed, the more his presence instilled dread in the enemy, and anyone beneath his level felt a terror beyond comprehension.

With the enemy around in disarray, and stunt in mid-air. He pulled the trigger, the heavy machine gun roaring to life as it spat out rounds. One by one, the enemy Tie-fighters exploded in a fiery spectacle, their pilots never knowing what hit them. Cipher moved through them with cold efficiency, slaughtering them without a hint of remorse.

Meanwhile, the rest of the rebel's fleet watching from their respective ships and fighters were looking at all this chaos dumbstruck, unsure if they were enemy or allies.

Captain Syndulla was watching from a ghost and was unsure <<...Who are these people?>>

<<Whatever the case, I do not want to be an enemy of these people>> Ezra responds.

Nonetheless, the commander of the rebel fleet. Hera Syndulla got out of her daze and immediately ordered from the comms.

<<All ships! Begin the preparation to jump!>> Syndulla said

The situation was grim, and Hera wasn't about to waste the opportunity presented. Whoever this squad of fighter were, they had turned the tide of battle. If their goal was to buy the Rebels time to escape, she wasn't about to squander it. The enemy of her enemy, at least for now, was a friend.

Above the battlefield, the Star Destroyer loomed, its massive turbo lasers swiveling to lock onto the Rebel fleet. Hera's stomach tightened at the sight. She knew there would be heavy casualties if even a fraction of those weapons fired.

She can already tell that only 1/4 of the rebel's ships will be left after this battle, despite the casualties she knows this is the only chance she gets the moment the rest of the empire fleet in disarray from the lost of their star destroyer and interdictor class destroyer.

Then, like a bolt from the blue, the mysterious fighter veered sharply and darted past the Rebel fleet, heading straight for the Star Destroyer.

<<What is he doing?>> Ezra asked from the comms

The answer came seconds later. The lone fighter screamed toward the Star Destroyer, weaving through flak and laser fire with impossible precision. In a single, devastating attack run, it tore through the Destroyer's primary turbo laser banks, each cannon erupting in a cascade of sparks and smoke. Secondary explosions rippled across the hull as the Destroyer's defenses crumbled.

It quickly took out most of the turbo laser in a single run.

For a few moments, Syndulla saw the fighter as a single knight mowing their path for their king or princess to go through.

Without a moment's hesitation, the Rebel fleet surged forward, weaving through the scattered remnants of the Imperial blockade. As they cleared the danger zone, one by one, the ships jumped to hyperspace, the stars stretching into long streaks before vanishing entirely.

Back on the Ghost, Hera Syndulla let out a long breath, her hands shaking slightly as the tension finally released. She counts the number of rebel fleets that have managed to survive.

Around 60% of the fleet managed to survive, a staggering number since she expected that the number that survived was supposed to be around 10% or even lower.

After confirming the survival of the fleet, Hera sent an encrypted message to the remaining ships, instructing them to execute a series of three hyperspace jumps before regrouping at the designated fallback point

She leaned back in the chair, her body slumping with exhaustion.

When suddenly the door behind her slid open with a soft hiss. Kanan Jarrus stepped into the room, his presence steadying as always. Hera glanced over her shoulder, catching the faint glow of his lightsaber at his hip. His expression was thoughtful, tinged with a quiet wonder that only deepened as his gaze settled on her.

"How is it?" he asked, his voice gentle but concerned.

Hera exhaled, rubbing her temples as she sat up straighter. "We're… still good," she said, though her voice carried the weariness of someone who had barely slept. "Most of the casualties were beyond what we expected, but the Empire paid a far steeper price in this battle. Even better, we can recover from this despite the losses."

Kanan's brow furrowed. "Even though we lost Atollon?"

Hera paused, her fingers tracing the edge of the console absentmindedly. "Equipment can be replaced," she said firmly. "Experienced personnel can't. We successfully evacuated most of our people, even in the chaos. For what it's worth, I consider this battle a victory."

Kanan nodded slowly, though his expression remained conflicted. "Do you think we'll ever see them again?"

Hera didn't answer immediately. Knowing full well that what he meant by them were the four fighter

Her gaze lingered on the empty spot in space where the 4 fighters had been.

"I hope not," she said at last, her voice heavy with emotion. "But if we do…" She turned back to Kanan, her green eyes meeting his with steely resolve. "Let's make sure we're on their side."

Kanan gave a small smile, though the weight of her words was not lost on him. "Agreed," he said quietly, stepping closer to rest a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "But no matter what happens, we'll face it together. Like we always have."

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Funds: $10.970

Pilot: Alina Blackburn (Trigger), Cipher, Galaxy, Mobius 1.

Aircraft: X-02 Wyvern, Su-34, E-3 Sentry or Awacs, F-22A Raptor, 4 x FSS-1000 Sabre.

Surface Pilot: Shriogane Takeru , Isumi Michiru, Sakaki Chizuru, Yoroi Mikoto , Tamase Miki, Hayase Mitsuki, Mitsurugi Meiya, Ayamine Kei , Munakata Misae Kazama Touko, Suzumiya Akane , Kashiwagi Haruko.

Mech: 12 x Type-97 Fubuki