Danic Polis

> "*You name it, I can fly it.*"
> ― **Danic Polis**
>
>

## **Overview**

**Danic Polis** was a member of Arrow Squadron during the Galactic Civil War and into the New Republic Era. Born on Dantooine, he grew up the son of a fighter pilot, his father Wyl Polis having served as a member of the Royal House of Naboo's Space Fighter Corps. His father left Naboo shortly after meeting his mother, Nori Zana, and moved to Dantooine to live as a farmer. It was here that Danic was born.

He joined the Rebellion as a Y-wing pilot and proved his metal in combat before the Battle of Scarif, flying with Havoc Squadron. He was assigned to Arrow Squadron shortly after the battle and joined them in the Betseeda System.

Known for pushing his bomber to the limits, Danic was a critical player in the Alliance's campaign. He participated in every engagement in the Betseeda System, as well as fighting at the Battle of Endor, in the war against the Glaston Pirates and the Hutt Campaign.

Danic was one of the few original members of Arrow Squadron that chose to continue serving in the starfighter corp once the New Republic formed after the defeat of the Imperial forces. His call sign was Arrow Four.

## **Biography**

### **Early Life**

As a child, Danic’s head was filled with imagination as his father told him stories of his days in the N-1, flying with the corps; stories about how he single-handedly wiped out a squad of pirates threatening the queen’s escort, or how, during the Battle of Naboo, he played a role in liberating two civilizations on Naboo, the humans and Gungans, from the Trade Federation. These stories, as well as a relatively quiet life on Dantooine, made the young Polis enthralled with piloting his own starfighter someday. Almost every night, he would wear his father’s old pilot helmet and to run around his family yard, pretending to shoot down wave after wave of droids fighters, just like his father.

With his father busy farming, Polis did not hesitate to pester his the veteran pilot to teach him how to fly. Working on his own, he saved up enough credits to buy an junker one seater ship. It was barely functional and wildly dangerous, but he loved it, and relished every opportunity to get in the cockpit.

### **Joining the Fight**

Finally, as he grew into manhood, Danic asked his parents if he could join the growing Rebellion. He was in his mid 20's and had been working as a mechanic and pilot on Dantooine for some time. He had heard of the oppression of the Empire from pilots coming through the shop where he worked and thought it was duty, just as it had been his fathers', to fight for those in need. Worried for their child, but proud of his bravery, his parents sent him off to join the fight, confident in his abilities and believing in his conviction.

Luckily for the young Polis, some of his father's old friends from the Naboo Space Fighter Corp were now fighting for the Rebellion. Despite their old age, some them approaching 70 standard years, they took him under their wing. He joined up with their squadron and it wasn't long before he was flying his own Y-wing bomber. One of his early missions was a bombing assault on the TIE Fighter assembly factory on the volcanic world of Sullust.

The mission was an utter failure and Polis was the sole survivor. He narrowly escaped the explosion of his own bomber and losing his left eye from a wayward piece of shrapnel. Nearly bleeding to death, he was rescued by the Sullustan resistance, who saved his life. They eventually ferried him back to the Alliance fleet where it took him some time to physically recover.

It was also during this time that Polis learned of his family's arrest at the hands of the Empire. Their location remained unknown, but Danic was both distraught and infuriated. He knew that he would do whatever he could to help save his family.

### **The Battle of Scarif & Transfer**

After several months of rest and medical attention, Polis was once again assigned to active duty, mostly on routine, less “risky” missions. He had also been fitted with a new cybernetic eye. While he was physically fit, he was still suffering from the loss of his close friends on Sullust. Despite his inner reservations, he was pressed into action at the Battle of Scarif, flying with Havoc Squadron and performing ably.

Shortly there after, he was transferred to the newly formed Arrow Squadron under the command of Lieutenant Tolamael Benere as part of their liberation campaign of the Betseeda System. Polis, as a veteran bombing commander and Y-wing pilot, would lead Arrow Squadron small contingent of bombers. Seeing at an opportunity to take the fight to the Empire, he was pleased with the move.

### **Arrow Squadron**

> "*If you want to loosen up a few of their bolts, you'll need more than one bombing run.*"
> ― Danic Polis to Lieutenant Tolamael Benere
>
>

Polis and Arrow Squadron arrived in the Betseeda System and began to establish their presence. It was a delicate task as they had to establish a relationship with the local resistance forces, the BRF, but also build a base of operations.

Polis was happy to put some distance between the officers and brass of the Rebel Fleet and himself. It wasn't that he hated authority, he just disapproved of command meddling in the affairs of the enlisted man. He, like his father before him, had always been a pilot's pilot, there to complete the mission. When Admirals and Captains, analysts and junior officers, began weigh in, it bogged down the mission.

He was a bit unsure of the young Lieutenant Benere, but almost immediately, the Lieutenant told Danic that he had a fairly large leash, especially as the wing commander for Arrow's Y-wing detachment which would composed at that time of Polis and newcomers Craal "Al" Noarnn and Jev Talianos. Danic set to work helping to build the Arrow's base, which was located on Shonzu Lake just outside of Tazion. He was also pleased to meet Otan Vebb, a female Gungan in the unit. The two pilots often worked together and shared their stories, both good and bad, of Naboo. Vebb helped to paint a larger picture of his father's planet and, being the first Gungan he had met in person, helped to explain some of the stories his father had told him as a child.

One item that concerned the pilot, however, was the extremely low quantities of proton torpedoes that had been sent with the unit to the Betseeda System. With less than 20 torpedoes for the entire group, Danic made it known to Lieutenant Benere that should the opportunity present itself, the squadron should raid some Imperial supply depots.

### **The Early Days of the Campaign**

Polis flew with distinction at the First Battle of Betseeda Prime, leading the Y-Wing bomber group of Arrow Squadron. The bombers destroyed several key defensive structures and caused significant damage to the Imperial garrison in Tazion. Danic also shot down two Imperial TIE Fighters during the engagement. His non-traditional use of bombing tactics proved to be successful and Lieutenant Benere put a great amount of trust in the pilot.

Danic also began to bond with Gungan pilot Otan Vebb. The two shared a deep love of Naboo, the homeworld of Danic's father, Wyl, and Vebb. Danic loved hearing about the quirks of the Gungan culture and the beauty of a planet he longed to settle upon. A blossoming friendship between the two pilots helped both learn from one another.

Polis fought bravely during the Battle of Faan Shaarada, leading is bombers in a surprise attack against the Star Destroyer Venom - causing serious damage. Using stolen command channel communications, Polis posed as an Imperial Officer and gave misleading and confusing commands to both the nearby TIE fighters and the Star Destroyer itself. In this state of confusion, the Rebels were able to begin their attack and struck with lightning speed.

At around this time a batch of new pilots arrived in the unit and Polis was given another bomber, this one flown by Gran pilot Yol Aak. This would put the number of bombers in the unit at four.

The Arrows were not as lucky during the Battle of Myyribod. Polis, flying under the command of Vid Paratool, was ambushed by TIE fighters. In the ensuing chaos, Paratool was shot down and feared dead and several Arrow pilots were killed, including one of his bombers - Jev Talianos. Polis helped fight a rearguard action that allowed the Arrows to retreat, but it was a devastating blow to the unit.

### **Tragedy on Batahan**

Shortly after the defeat over Myyribod, the Arrows received intelligence from Betseedan Resistance Forces agents detailing a nearby prison colony in the Onoro System, a neighbor of the Betseeda System. The system possessed no major settlements or cities and only a few isolated desolate planets, one of which was Batahan. It was this on planet where the were the prisoners were being held, mostly being used as slave labor to support the small Imperial maintenance facility on the planet. The BRF agents identified most of the prisoners as being political exiles that could, possibly, assist with the liberation campaign currently underway in the Betseeda System.

The report was shelved by Lieutenant Benere as being low priority. However, after speaking with the Lieutenant, Polis became interested in the planet. After reviewing the prisoner list, he noticed several names of resistance fighters or elected officials from Naboo. While he had not seen or heard from since their capture nearly a year prior, and they hadn't lived on Naboo in nearly 20 years, he was nonetheless intrigued by the report.

The report, like so many others, slowly slipped to the back of his mind as well. Some time later, the Arrows were alerted to an emergency distress signal that had been sent from the planet. BRF operatives had intercepted the message and immediately delivered it to the Arrows. Lieutenant Benere called Danic into his small office to play the transmission. The contents of the message were troubling. As it turned out, Polis's gut was correct: his father - Wyl - had sent the message. He spoke of horrible conditions in the camp and that many prisoners were being held. In his plea for help, he also spoke of Danic's mother. He could hear the pain and anger in his father's trembling voice.

Before he could even request permission to investigate, Lieutenant Benere ordered him to Batahan to investigate the matter. The Lieutenant gave Danic his fellow Naboo pilot - Otan - as a wing mate and the two were on their way to Batahan within the hour. In the event that the two pilots had to evacuate multiple prisoners, they were given Arrow Squadron's stolen Lambda-class shuttle. This shuttle would also be far less noticeable once it arrived on Batahan.

Unfortunately, their arrival did not go unnoticed and the shuttle was fired upon by a passing Imperial patrol of two TIE fighters. Danic, in his hurry to leave, had not updated the Imperial codes aboard the ship and his mistake nearly cost them their lives. Polis, using some tricky flying, was able to lose the TIE's in the dense fog of Batahan and masked the shuttle's energy signature by modulating it to the natural gravitational pull of the planet. It was an ominous start to the mission.

Using the last known transmittal point of the distress signal, Otan and Danic were able to pinpoint its coordinates. They landed the shuttle nearby and scouted the location. With the isolated nature of Batahan, most Imperial slave labor camps were isolated and sparsely guarded. Dense fog made visibility difficult, but they eventually heard the sounds of blaster fire. Moving in that direction, they uncovered several stormtroopers executing political prisoners; it turned out that they too had heard Wyl Polis's transmission and had come to silence the old pilot.

> "*Dad, we don't have time for this right now. We have to move.*"
> ― Danic Polis to his father, Wyl, while escaping
>
>

Danic and Otan surprised the handful of stormtroopers and, with the help of the prisoners, were able to kill their attackers. While there was little time for comfort or discussion, Danic recognized his father and the two embraced. Wyl attempted to explain how he was captured, having been tracked back to Dantooine after a few skirmishes against both local criminals and Imperial authorities. The younger Polis insisted his father be quiet and the party began to move towards the shuttle. Danic, mother, however, was held in another location.

Danic and Otan led a small group of prisoners in a daring raid on the facility where she was being held. His father, meanwhile, had been given the controls of the Lambda-class shuttle and successfully provided air cover. Danic couldn't help be feel pride at his father's abilities.

Eventually, Danic and Otan discovered his mother, emaciated and defeated, in a holding cell. Her condition was horrid and she had died some time before, probably before Wyl had even sent his message. Leaving her as there was simply no time for anything else, the two pilots swallowed their emotions and fought their way back out of the small complex. Wyl had landed the shuttle and been wounded in a small fire fight himself. When he saw Danic, he didn't need to hear the words. He knew his wife was gone.

The trio, with the few surviving prisoners, fled the Onoro System. The trip was somber; there was no celebrating or laughter. Shortly thereafter, the shuttle rendezvoused with a passing Rebel transport and deposited Wyl and the other prisoners. Otan and Polis returned to Arrow Squadron, their bond even closer, but their hearts also heavy.

### **The Fight Intensifies**

> "*My bombers aren't worth a damn to you, LT. We don't even have a full compliment of torpedoes between the lot of us.*"
> ― Danic Polis to Lieutenant Tolamael Benere
>
>

During the lengthy and costly Siege of Tazion, Polis and his bombers were mostly grounded due to fuel shortages and a lack of bombing equipment. During this time, Polis and Vebb continued to bond and share stories of Naboo. This welcome distraction helped ease the trauma surrounding the death of his mother and the escape of his father.

With frequent Imperial bombardments, Danic and others worked as both nurses and mechanics in an attempt to keep the local population safe and their fighters in as best shape as possible. However, with both supplies and food stores running low, desperation began to seep into the joint BRF-Arrow Squadron force. During a tense meeting, Polis nearly came to blows with Nez Rennoc, the Deputy Commander of the BRF.

Once cooler heads prevailed, a plan was eventually hatched that would, if successful, end the siege. A strike team would be inserted onto one of the attacking Star Destroyers while an attack run by Arrow Squadron fighters would both distract and damage the other ship. Danic was assigned to the flight win and his bombing runs during the climatic battle did serious damage to the Star Destroyer Venom.

The siege broken and victory claimed, the Arrows celebrated their lucky break. Danic, however, was still in an difficult place and new the best and only thing to do was to let time heal the wound. During the passing weeks, he worked with the fledgling BRF fighter detachment, the brainchild of fellow pilot Kostan Stodl. He did not participate in the impromptu Second Battle of Betseeda Prime, but was pleased with the Arrows continued success.

### **The Betseeda Campaign Draws to a Close**

Polis being a veteran pilot knew that, eventually, a knockout blow would need to be delivered by either the Imperials or Arrow Squadron. That blow would be delivered just on the heels of the Second Battle of Betseeda Prime. With both Imperial Star Destroyers - the Salient and the Venom both in dry-dock for repairs received during the Siege of Tazion, Lieutenant Benere saw an opportunity to strike.

The massive ships were docked at the long decommissioned Jonquil Station which floated above the watery planet of Jonquil. The Imperials in the system, now under the command of Captain Yiromatu Takei, had been using the state as a hub for their activity. The hope among the Arrows was that a quick, coordinated attack, would catch the station and the fleet off guard. It was a risky plan, but the Arrows had survived off risky plans since their arrival in the system nearly a year and a half prior.

The battle plan called for the Arrows to split into three wings: one to engage each Star Destroyer and a third to keep any fighters and defenses on Jonquil Station itself in check. Danic was assigned to Wing 2 under the command of Idolon Jdre that was assigned to destroy or cripple the Venom.

The battle was immediately intense as both the Star Destroyers and the station, while caught off guard by the brazen attack, were heavily defended by turbolaser batteries and TIE fighters. Danic lost one of his few bomber pilots - Craal "Al" Noarnn - as her ship was severely damaged by an attacking TIE. She managed to escape thanks to the actions of her Gungan wingmate. After saving Craal from certain death, Polis's closest friend in the unit, Otan Vebb, was shot down and killed by an enemy fighter. Within the space of mere seconds, two Arrows had been taken out of the fight.

> "*"I'm not one to give orders, Arrow Two, but we've lost a lot of friends today. We can't lose you as well."*"
> ― Danic Polis
>
>

> "*Point noted, Four, but we can't just those towers hammer us. I'm making a run. Get em home safe, Danic.*"
> ― Idolon Jdre in response to Danic
>
>

Polis had to process his grief and turned it into anger. His repeated attacks against the Salient bordered on reckless, but his bombs and ion cannons found their mark. The ship was not docked as close to the station as the Venom, but nonetheless, Wing 2 came under intense fire from the Imperial gunners. In one of the best displays of piloting he had ever witnessed, Idolon Jdre managed to destroy nearly all of the gun platforms on the station as well as several on the Salient. His actions bought time for the Arrows to deliver a killing blow on the Salient, with the final strike coming from two torpedoes out of Danic's Y-Wing. The crippled ship broke apart as the Venom began to drift towards a watery grave on the surface of Jonquil. Whoops and cheers rang out over the comm channel in celebration. Just when it appeared that Ide would survive his attack run, he was caught in Imperial crossfire and killed in front of the entire unit.

The blow of losing so many squadron mates was almost too much to bear. Danic and his surviving flight wing, with command now falling to the Y-Wing pilot were quickly reinforced by Lieutenant Benere and Paratool's fighters. As Danic looked at his chronometer, he realized that the battle was over within 15 standard minutes. However, so much had been lost.

Seeing both Star Destroyers crippled and destroyed, the remaining TIE fighters beat a hasty retreat. The Arrows did not pursue and mere moments later, the Salient exploded in a massive fireball, most likely the result of an auto-destruct feature enabled by its remaining crew. A large portion of Jonquil Station was also destroyed in this explosion and the handful of platforms still firing ceased to function.

The campaign for the Betseeda System was finally over.

### **Aftermath**

The government on Betseeda Prime officially declared it's support for the rebellion and, despite active resistance on the Imperial-loyalist planet of Myyribod, large scale combat operations in the area were at an end. The Arrows were celebrated with banquets and parties, but the victory felt hollow for nearly all members of the squadron. After losing his mother and then so many friends, especially Vebb and Jdre, Polis sunk into a deep depression. Fellow pilots Noarrn, Benere, and Udas took notice of his change in attitude and wondered if he would continue the fight.

The war was far from over and the Arrows had a new assignment.

## The Glaston Pirate War

> "*There is something going on here, something we don't yet know or understand.*"
> ― Danic Polis to S'Hral Glaso and Sorshara Bray
>
>

### **The Chommell Sector**

Polis, still reeling from recent string of deaths, did not resign and went with the Arrows when they were assigned to the Chommell Sector. The Arrows would be clashing with a group of bloodthirsty criminals known as the Glaston Pirates. These pirates had been raiding and pillaging rebel commerce in the area, which was having a serious impact on the war effort. What the Arrows did not yet know as that the pirates were operating under the orders and with the backing of local Imperial agents.

Danic, finally processing and moving on from his grief, was looking forward the distraction of flying, one of the only places he felt like himself. He had heard of the Glaston Pirates in the past and their reputable was formidable. At around this time, the Arrows also received a small reinforcement of pilots. Nonetheless, only Noarrn and Aak would continue to fly under his bomber command.

Early reports located the pirates base on the moon of Ruaha. Alliance intelligence was convinced that the pirates would break under attack by trained pilots. Thus far, they had only dealt with civilian and lightly armored ships. It was troublesome to many of the veterans in the unit, including Danic, that intelligence was unsure of the actual strength of the brigands. The Arrows could very well be walking into an ambush.

In addition, the Arrows did not know that the pirates had been using a gravity well projector, given to them by their Imperial handlers, to pull ships out of hyperspace.

While the Arrows anticipated a counterattack once they arrived at Ruaha, they were caught off guard when they were pulled from hyperspace a short distance from the planet and came face to face with their enemy. Luckily enough, the pirates did not expect their target to be Alliance fighters. The Battle of Ruaha ensued. In a pitched, brief encounter, the Glaston Pirates were able to escape from their base with a majority of their forces and the Arrows suffered no casualties. The attack was inconclusive, but it proved that the Arrows were operating under poor intelligence; the Pirates strategically retreated to another hidden base and put up stiff resistance. The only significant accomplishment of the battle was that they had lost their gravity well, which had been severely damaged by Danic's bombers as well as other members of the unit.

With the pirates going deep underground, tracking and finding their new base or bases would be the Arrow's mission. In the coming months, Danic and others worked to scour the Chommell Sector for any trace of the pirates often using their connections to the underworld or less than savory individuals. During this time, Danic was in contact with his father who was recuperating on Dantooine. He was also able to visit Naboo and spent a good amount of time exploring the natural beauty of his parent's homeworld. Danic also visited the family of his late friend - Otan Vebb - and presented Otan's mother with some of her personal belongings. Danic spent several days with the Vebb family learning more about Otan and the Gungans. When he parted, he felt an even stronger connection to Naboo.

With little going their way, in terms of finding the Glaston Pirates, a plan was hatched to infiltrate the pirates using members of Arrow Squadron as bait. Danic was vehemently opposed to the idea believing it to be entirely too dangerous, but he was overruled and Lieutenant Benere gave the order to proceed. This tactic ultimately proved successful as Noarnn, Sorshara Bray, and S'Hral Glaso were intentionally captured and taken back to the pirate stronghold of Vagabond's Rest. Eventually, they escaped with the aid of the defecting DeMeers family, who subsequently joined the Arrows in their attack on the base a short time later.

### **Vagabond's Rest**

During the Battle of Vagabond's Rest, Danic shot down four enemy fighters and crippled several of the planetary turrets. When the Arrows were given the order to eliminate all escaping ships, even those that most certainly contained fleeing women and children, Danic hesitated, but ultimately helped destroy the Glaston Pirates to a man. Only a few survivors were captured and turned over to Alliance High Command. Shooting down the civilians did not sit well with many members of the unit, viewing the actions no different than those of the Empire, but Danic sided with Lieutenant Benere in the subsequent debate. He understood that if they let the pirates escape, the fighting would continue and more lives may be lost.

The campaign against the pirates was over, but several Arrow Squadron pilots had been killed or wounded in the struggle. As the Arrows settled into what they thought would a period of R&R on Naboo, Danic was happy to spend more time with his adoptive Vebb family and explore Naboo's cities. Unfortunately for the Arrows, plans were in the works that, if successful, would bring a valuable ally into the war. Arrow Squadron was called up, along with several other fighter groups, to take part in what became known as the Hutt Campaign.

## **The Hutt Campaign**

### **Off To A Bad Start**

> "*This whole operation smells like bantha shit. Working with the Hutts is dangerous and are thousands of dead smugglers who would support that accusation.*"
> ― Danic Polis
>
>

Danic was not at all pleased to be assigned to the Hutt Campaign. The campaign was a result of months of negotiations with the powerful Hutt Cartels. The Hutts had remained neutral throughout the Rebellion, traded and dealing with both sides. However, a planet within their domain - Ullatak - had been occupied and enforced by Imperial forces. These forces had begun to crack down on the Hutts activities and cut into their profit margin. The Hutts and Alliance diplomats had worked out a possible solution. If the Alliance, alongside Hutt soldiers, would assist the Hutts in taking back Ullatak, they would endorse and support the Rebellion.

It was a chance the Alliance could not pass up and several squadrons were mobilized for the attack. The plan called for the Alliance to provide air support while Hutt ground forces took the facility by force. Once again, the Arrows were operating on intelligence that was suspect and, to make matters worse provided by Hutt spies without confirmation from Alliance sources.

Assigned to the ship the Dawn's Light, the Arrows were moved into position as part of larger attack armada. The transit to Hutt Space as troublesome as members of the Hutt forces and Alliance pilots often clashed over even the smallest perceived insult. Danic had to break up several scuffles and was himself involved in a bout with a particularly tough Klatoonian. In addition to this tense voyage, Arrow Squadron often privately expressed their concerns about the mission. Even Lieutenant Benere, a stickler for following command, had reservations about the attack.

### **The Battle**

Once the Dawn's Light arrived above Ullatak, the plan hit another snag. Hutt ground forces moved entirely too slowly and shuttling them to and from the planet's surface took nearly three times as long as it should have. In addition, Imperial fighters were able to attack these troop convoys and shoot down several ships, decimating a squadron of X-Wings known as Bacta Squadron. Among those lost in Bacta Squadron were two pilots Danic had befriended on the trip to Hutt Space.

As a result of the delays, the Imperial ground forces, who had long anticipated the attack, prepared strong defenses. When the Battle of Ullatak actually began, Arrow Squadron was in the second fighter wave. Danic, flying at the head of his bombers, was tasked with knocking out several ground turrets on the western slope of the canyon where the Imperial base was built. The ground fire was intense, but the bombers executed two attack runs before Yol Aak, one of Danic's pilots and a popular veteran of the unit, was shot down and killed by one of the turrets.

This was a turning point as it resulted in fellow pilot Vid Paratool going AWOL and disobeying several orders. Danic and the remaining fighters continued with their mission and eventually, Hutt ground forces overwhelmed the base, capturing the day.

The cost, however, was astronomical. Several thousand Hutt soldiers had been killed and dozens of starfighters had been shot down. Nearly the entire command structure of the Alliance detachment was furious with the poor intelligence and bad planning of the Hutts. To make matters worse, the Hutts, as predicted by many in the unit, broke their promises and refused to enter the war on the side of the Alliance.

### **Fallout**

The Hutt Campaign was an absolute failure and several individuals within the Alliance lost their commissions and were relieved of duty. Danic, having felt betrayed by the Alliance's poor planning and the fact that they had been rushed from one assignment to the next, was at a breaking point. He understood why his friend Vid Paratool was resigning from the unit, even if he didn't always agree with what Vid had to say or the way he did it. Several pilots talked openly about giving up the fight and returning to their civilian lives. Danic always supported Lieutenant Benere in public, but privately, he questioned his future in the war.

## **The Long Patrol**

### **Peace of Mind**

Following the debacle at Ullatak, the Arrows were finally pulled from the front lines and assigned to the Alliance Fleet. The heart of the Rebellion, the massive fleet was comprised of hundreds of ships and thousands of personnel. The Arrows were assigned convey and supply duty for the foreseeable future. Some viewed this assignment as punishment for their role at Ullatak. Others, including Danic, viewed it as a reward. It allowed the Arrows a chance to breath, to exist not in a constant state of preparedness. The convoy duties were easily missions and only rarely resulted in any tangible action.

Danic enjoyed the time with the fleet, especially having the opportunity to meet Admiral Gial Ackbar, the overall Rebel Alliance Fleet Commander. He used the time to heal himself mentally from the trauma of the past two years and the reinvest himself in the Rebel Cause.

During this time, Danic's most trusted bomber, the diminutive Craal "Al" Noarnn retired from the unit and left the war effort. Over the next 10 months, other pilots were either transferred and retired as well as Danic began to notice a marked shift in the fleet. Trial runs and mock combat drills increased. The unmistakable tension of a group on a mission washed over the fleet. Little did Danic know his senses were correct.

### **The Battle of Endor**

After nearly a year of the escort duty, it became apparent that the fleet, which had been growing over the last few weeks, was preparing for something. What that something was remained unknown. However, after Lieutenant Benere returned from a briefing that he said "everyone who is everyone" was in attendance, their mission became clear.

The Rebel Alliance was going after a second, larger Death Star.

Danic, and everyone else, knew of the destruction of the First Death Star a few years prior. However, the Emperor had been building a secret second Death Star near the forest moon of Endor. This would be their target and Danic, to say the least, was terrified of the prospect. With so many pilots having recently retired, transferred, or absent, only four members of Arrow Squadron would be suiting up for what became known as the Battle of Endor. Danic, alongside Lieutenant Benere, S'Hral Glaso and Tozin X'ala would fly alongside nearly a thousand other small fighters in a battle that they all knew could shift the entire course of the war.

As the Rebel Fleet - included Arrow Squadron - prepared to attack the station, they realized that it was a trap set by the Emperor himself. Danic and the other ships were forced to fight a close quarters battle against both an onslaught of TIE fighters and dozens of Imperial Star Destroyers that aimed to prevent any rebel ship from escaping. The fighting was intense and brutal. Danic had never flown in such a large engagement and as the capital ships from both sides hammered each other, he did his best to destroy as many enemy fighters a possible. Despite taking several hits, including one that knocked his astromech droid out of the battle entirely, Danic managed to shoot down several Imperial pilots and, when the order was given to move away from the Death Star, beat a hasty retreat.

All four Arrow Squadron pilots that flew at Endor survived, as did those stationed aboard the Home One, the Rebel flag ship. Danic shouted with joy as the Death Star exploded behind him. He knew that things would never be the same, that the Rebellion had just turned the table.

## **The War Continues**

### **The Tingel Arm**

Little did the Arrows know, but the Battle of Endor would be the last engagement that Lieutenant Tolamael Benere would command. Shortly after the stunning victory, he was promoted and transferred to High Command. While the unit was proud of him, they hated to see their command go. Danic had been particularly close to Tolamael and the young Lieutenant had come to rely on the veteran bomber's opinion and experience.

There was a question over who would take command of the unit and, for a brief time, Danic considered how he would lead if he was promoted. However, command was given to Udas, perhaps the best all-around pilot in the unit and a natural leader. As part of his promotion, he was given the rank of Lieutenant. Danic would remain in command of the bombing detachment of Arrow Squadron which now included only himself and newly assigned pilot Ashar Fogg.

Danic also supervised the delivery of several new astromechs and took it upon himself to make the new pilots in the unit feel welcome. He got along almost immediately with the rough and tumble Fogg, who reminded Danic of a younger version of himself.

The Arrows were eventually assigned to the area known as the Tingel Arm, an area located on the edge of the Outer Rim where they wouldn't always know friend from foe. Several Imperial units had fled into the Arm following the destruction of the second Death Star and the Arrows would be ferreting them out, one by one. Danic didn't know what to expect, but he had heard rumors of the dangerous Tingel Arm before, stories that if true, could make this the most dangerous mission yet undertaken by the Arrows.