Training Day

Some time after the rescue of the Redeemer…
The Perfundity’s hangar was a degree or two colder than standard Imperial protocols, and Wedge shivered a little as he ran pre-flight checks outside his X-Wing for the third time.

“Antilles,” General Merrick called over from where he was addressing the other pilots. “Ship’s not going to get any more prepped. If you can’t fly it as it is, you need to be here more than I thought.”

“Sorry, Sir,” Wedge said. He hurried over to join Wona and Hobbie where they were leaning against a supply crate.

General Merrick cut a stark profile. Wedge knew him to be barely in his mid-forties, but his face was marked with stress lines and his greying blond hair covered a creeping widow’s peak. He looked the pair up and down.

“So you two are the ones General Dodonna sent from Massassi Group?”

Wedge nodded. “Yes, Sir. Hobbie and I are with Red Squadron.”

“Wona Goban, with Gold Squadron,” Wona said. “If I may, I’m not sure we should be here. I mean, Wedge is easily the best pilot I’ve seen, and I’m no slouch, myself.”

Merrick smirked and shook his head. “Looks like someone didn’t read their assignment brief all the way through.”

“Sir?” Wona said.

“This isn’t a remedial flight course, Goban,” Merrick said. He stepped back to address the whole class, some twenty or so pilots from across various rebel cells.

“Things are heating up against the Empire,” Merrick said. “If things keep going as they are, it won’t be long before you see some serious action. You’re here because you’re the top pilots from your respective groups.” He paused and folded his arms. “We’ll make you better. And you’ll take what you learn here back to your own squadrons to pass it on.”

Hobbie raised his hand to speak. “We, Sir?”

Merrick nodded. “Your instructor is on her way from Renegade Cell.”

Wona’s eyes lit up. “Their fighter pilot? I’ve heard of her. Is it true she inverted and went EV to jump into another fighter at full speed?”

Merrick grinned. “I saw it myself.”

Hobbie rolled his eyes. “Stunts like that aren’t going to be any use in a pitched battle.”

Wona turned to him. “She used to fly TIE interceptors. I heard she even went to Skystrike Academy, and her cell are the reason you're flying an X-Wing.”

“Big deal,” Hobbie said. “Me and Wedge went to Skystrike.”

“Yeah but she actually graduated,” Wona said. Wedge covered his mouth and tried not to laugh.

A klaxon alerted them to an incoming ship. An X-Wing flew in.

“Attention!” Merrick said.

Hobbie leaned over to Wedge. “She can’t have seen that much action. That thing looks brand new.”

Wedge watched the craft set down with impeccable precision. “Did you not pay attention in the Academy when we were covering survivorship bias, Hobbie?”

Hobbie shrugged.

“If she’s fought as much as the General says and her ship looks that good, it means she’s never been hit,” Wedge said.

Hobbie’s mouth fell open. “Still, she’s just another ex-Imperial like us. What’s she got that we don’t?”

The fighter’s cockpit opened, and the pilot climbed down the side ladder. There was a rumble of murmuring from everyone except Wedge and Hobbie. The pilot wore a full set of blue and silver Mandalorian armour.

She walked up to the group and removed her helmet. “Good to see you again, General.” She and Merrick shook hands. “So, who here would you say is the top pilot?”

Merrick pointed to Wedge. “Antilles, there, has scored the highest on all our rankings.”

The Mandalorian urged Wedge over with a nod. He walked up and saluted.

She smiled. “At ease, I’m not a ranked officer anymore. My name’s Serena.” She offered her hand.

“Wedge,” he said, and they shook.

“Okay,” Serena said. “Get to your ship and let’s see what you can do.”