"Blade Squadron: Jakku" is a short story with writing credits attributed to David J. Williams and Mark S. Williams. The artwork was created by Chris Trevas. Serving as a tie-in to the novel Aftermath: Empire's End, the story saw its publication on April 12, 2017 within the pages of Star Wars Insider 172.
During the Battle of Jakku, Lieutenant Gina Moonsong's unit, Blade Squadron, launches an attack on the rear engines of the Super Star Destroyer Ravager. This vessel serves as the flagship for the Imperial fleet positioned above the desert planet of Jakku. While participating in the assault, Gina's B-wing starfighter sustains damage from falling wreckage, compromising both her ship's shields and its maneuver drive. As she plummets into Jakku's atmosphere, Moonsong skillfully maneuvers her B-wing to position it behind the descending Ravager, effectively using the crippled Super Star Destroyer as a heat shield for atmospheric reentry.
Enduring intense g-forces, Gina successfully initiates the auto-landing sequence just before succumbing to unconsciousness. Upon landing, Moonsong manages to exit her damaged B-wing moments before a squadron of TIE fighters obliterates the craft. After traversing approximately ten kilometers, Gina discovers a stormtrooper encampment, where she procures a canteen filled with water and an E-11 medium blaster rifle. At this location, she encounters a fellow New Republic starfighter pilot, the adolescent Temmin Wexley, an operative within Phantom Squadron. Temmin generously shares some nutritional supplements with the more experienced pilot.
While maintaining watch over the encampment, Gina engages in conversation with Temmin, who reveals his lineage as the son of Norra Wexley. Norra was a Y-wing starfighter pilot who flew during the Battle of Endor and through the second Death Star. Temmin expresses anxiety, but Moonsong offers reassurance, affirming his mother's resilience and promising their eventual reunion. Shortly thereafter, they are joined by a contingent of New Republic soldiers from the Third Recon Group, under the command of Sergeant Agarne. Agarne escorts Gina and Temmin to his commanding officer, Major Ranz, who recruits Moonsong and Temmin for an assault on an Imperial supply convoy. This convoy is en route through the pass with the objective of reinforcing the Imperial outpost situated at Golga Station. Despite having suffered significant losses, Major Ranz's forces remain resolute in their mission to prevent the Imperial convoy from reaching Golga Station and Base Alpha.
Prior to the assault, Gina proposes a strategic plan to Major Ranz. As the convoy proceeds through the pass, Ranz's scouts will utilize improvised power packs to detonate the second Imperial Troop Transport within the convoy, thereby obstructing their advance. Subsequently, the remaining ITTs will assume a triangular formation. Major Ranz and his troops will then emerge from their foxholes, launching rockets at the rear transports, resulting in the destruction of the vehicles and the elimination of the stormtroopers inside. However, the surviving Imperials swiftly regroup and establish a skirmish line. The Imperials also deploy a tripod-mounted blaster cannon. Imperial troops then advance from the front of the column to reinforce the rear.
Gina, Wexley, Agarne, and three squad members then emerge from their foxholes and attack the frontal column with grenades and blasters. Gina and Temmin then storm the first ITT only to discover that the long-range comm dish has been damage. Temmin tries to fix the comm-dish only to be stunned. Moonsong sends a voice message to the New Republic fighter command. With the New Republic squad under attack, Gina helps up the stunned Wexley.
The stormtroopers manage to set up their tripod cannon and proceed to blast the New Republic positions behind them while other stormtroopers attempt a flanking maneuver. Major Ranz uses the remaining explosives to blow himself up in an attempt to stop the stormtroopers form overrunning his position. The surviving New Republic soldiers including Sergeant Agarne regroup with Gina and Temmin near a dune.
A flight of TIE fighters them strafes Major Ranz's former position, killing the Republic soldiers with him and several stormtroopers. Gina and the other soldiers are about to make their final stand when several B-wings from Blade Squadron attack and destroy the TIE fighters. As the New Republic soldiers celebrate their triumph, Gina attends to Temmin and reassures him that they are going home and that his mother will be proud. Gina is shortly later joined by her former boyfriend and starfighter pilot Braylen Stramm, who is pleased that she has survived.