Daala felt her nerves taut like high-tension wires running through her body. She kept her expression impassive, but adrenaline coursed through her as she strapped herself into her chair.
Everything had gone remarkably well. The conquest had been devastating and bloody, but she had taken out selected targets--the appropriate victims--and the Empire's harvest grew stronger and richer with each weed she plucked. She felt elated when she thought of the momentum of her triumph.
Pellaeon raised his eyebrow in question, but she didn't respond. The risk had paid off for her. She would always remain on guard, but for the moment the danger was over. Now she had to work on consolidating her power.
Cronus swiveled in his pilot seat, looking at Daala with deep brown eyes that held an unexpected warmth; she wondered if he actually appreciated her takeover. She had seen him look upon the body of Superior General Delvardus with barely concealed scorn.
"Entering hyperspace, Admiral Daala,” he said. "Please don't be alarmed." Around the ship, space vanished in a multicolored swirl.
Daala leaned forward to speak to the colonel.
"We've researched the amount of funding Delvardus funneled into his operations, and I am not impressed with what I saw at his fortress." She narrowed her emerald eyes and continued, "I hope he hasn't been squandering the Empire's resources."
Cronus smiled and shook his head. "I assure you, Admiral, he has not. I think even you will be impressed."
Daala closed her eyes for a moment to tally her fleet in her mind, adding together the Star Destroyers she had already collected from the various warlords, all of the battleships and firepower she had to command. She vowed to put her fleet to its best use this time.
"Here we are, Admiral." Colonel Cronus flicked the hyperspace controls that dropped them back into the normal universe.
Blackness washed around them, and the distant sun appeared as a bright point at the center of the system. Other than that, space was dark around the armored transport.
Then Daala noticed a blot as she stared, an enormous shadow that eclipsed the stars. It seemed to be kilometers long and grew larger as they approached.
Cronus fiddled with the comm system and transmitted a recognition code. "Power up," he said to some unknown listener. "Let's make a good display."
Daala squinted out the viewport, and suddenly she saw a whirlwind of tiny lights appear, marking deck after deck on a breathtakingly huge ship. The immense wedge-shaped shadow was a single vessel larger than anything she had ever seen before.
"I can't believe it," Pellaeon said beside her. "Only the Executor was this big--and that one ship practically bankrupted the Empire."
"What is it?" Daala asked.
Cronus smiled, his expressive face showing his obvious enjoyment at her reaction--but it was Pellaeon who answered. "It's a Super Star Destroyer," he said.
Cronus nodded eagerly. "Worth twenty Imperial Star Destroyers," he said, his eyes flashing with pride. "It is eight kilometers long, can carry a crew of up to a hundred thousand--and is plated with stealth armor. That's why it appeared as only a black shadow as we approached. Though gigantic, it is virtually invisible to enemy forces."
He lowered his voice as if imparting a precious secret. "We named it the Night Hammer."
Daala's eyes shone with wonder, and her breath came shallow and fast as Cronus directed the armored transport to the open bay of the Super Star Destroyer. Daala could not restrain herself and stood from her seat, waiting behind the colonel. She leaned forward, unable to tear her eyes from the beauty of the black Night Hammer.
"That will be my ship," she whispered.
CORUSCANT
CHAPTER 21
Inside the cavernous Imperial palace, Leia Organa Solo and her family wore nondescript civilian clothes, stopping at a pleasant café to eat their lunch like normal citizens. It felt good to be out of uniform where Leia could pretend to be invisible--though she knew that private bodyguards, professional protectors, and crack sharpshooters followed at a comfortable distance, monitoring her every movement.
Leia resented the interference--but she also knew after many attempts on her own life or on her family, she couldn't afford to grow careless. Too much was at stake.
Han carried Anakin against his side, and the young boy clasped small hands around his father's neck.
"Come on, kids, there's a table over here," he said. The energetic twins raced to be the first to reach the empty seats.
Chewbacca let loose a long yowl, insisting that the kids slow down and be careful--but they ignored the big Wookiee.
"If you would simply allow me to handle this, I'm sure they would behave," Threepio said.
Chewbacca flashed his fangs at the golden droid. "Really, Chewbacca! There's absolutely no call for such displays."
Artoo-Detoo whistled, but Threepio didn't bother to respond. The golden droid carried two trays of food, while Chewbacca hefted his own mounded high with dripping meat.
Their group chose a table at the edge of a towering balcony. Mists rose around it, generated from vaporizers in the synrock walls. Trickling fountains traced rivulets of water down the dozens of stories to an open plaza enclosed within the pyramidal palace.
Threepio and Chewbacca set their trays on the table, but the twins rushed to the edge barricade, standing on their tiptoes to peer far below.
"Look at the people!" Jaina said. "They're so tiny."
"Can I throw something down?" Jacen asked, looking around for any object to toss over the edge.
"No, you may not," Leia said.
"But Jaina's going to," the boy responded.
"No, she isn't," Leia repeated with a sterner tone.
"No, I'm not!" Jaina said.
"Come on, sit down," Han said, settling Anakin into a chair.
Around them the rustle of thousands of officials, bureaucrats, and aides going about their business made a drone of white noise mixed with the buzz of machinery, air exchangers, and climate-control systems. Leia felt calmer now that she could take a brief break. At least people weren't challenging every decision she made for lunch.
Leia appreciated Mon Mothma's confidence in her, when the former Chief of State had passed the torch of rulership--but Leia did not relish the work of being president, though she considered it her duty.
Jacen and Jaina sat down and began to play with their food, and she was relieved that they had chosen something that wouldn't try too hard to run away. The twins loved colored cubes of fizzing protein gelatin, though Leia couldn't stand the stuff.
Han had chosen a greasy Corellian dish, while Leia contented herself with hydroponic greens sprinkled with intense flavor crystals.
She closed her eyes as she sank into her chair. "It's so nice just to be together with the family, if only for a few minutes."
Chewbacca agreed with a loud rumble.
A tall, offensively efficient waitdroid came up with a gleaming empty platter affixed to one metal arm. "May I provide further assistance, honored customers?" the waitdroid said. "I am proud to offer my services while you dine in our fine establishment. May I take orders for drinks or additional items? Condiments perhaps? The pleasure of my existence is to serve you faithfully."
Threepio grew indignant at the overblown expressions of hospitality. "I am their personal protocol droid, you pretentious pile of scrap, and I am perfectly capable of taking care of their needs. Now if you don't mind, this is a family outing, and we would much prefer to be left alone. Good day."
The waitdroid sniffed, spun its torso 180 degrees, and trundled off.
Han placed his hand over Leia's and gave a crooked smile. "Bad day?"
"Exhausting," Leia answered, her eyes still shut. "Every meeting seems like I'm running uphill on a high-gravity planet. Nothing gets accomplished easily. I find myself wishing for the "good old days" when we would just blast in, do our jobs, and leave: mission accomplished. Now I have to go through so many different steps, so many interminable committees, get agreement fr
om an unconscionable number of opposing parties so nobody in the galaxy is offended by the smallest piece of legislation ... it's impossible sometimes."
She opened her eyes and looked at her husband. Jacen and Jaina began throwing gelatin cubes at each other. "In a case like this, it's so perfectly plain. Why is there any discussion? We still can't come to an agreement."
"The stuff about the Hutts?" Han asked.
She bit her lower lip and nodded. "It's obvious the Hutts are pulling a fast one. We know what you and Luke found in Jabba's palace, we've got the message from Mara Jade, and we know that Durga's own Taurill stole the Death Star plans. We can't just ignore it."
She took a mouthful of leaves and crunched, thinking as she chewed. Han ate one of his grayish green sausages and smacked his lips, relishing the meal. "There are other ways to find out," he said.
Leia smiled. "I know." She felt her face grow warm, fixing her attention on the challenge. She squeezed Han's hand in both of hers. "Okay, we've had closed Senate meetings, and I've heard enough discussion to make a statue fall asleep. So what are we really going to do?"
Chewbacca ventured a loud opinion. "Yeah, I was thinking that, Chewie," Han said and turned to Leia. "The Hutts probably know we suspect something. We've heard news from too many different sources to hope that those slimy worms don't have an inkling yet. They'll be watching your official channels very closely. They've probably got spies scattered throughout the Imperial palace. We have to be careful."
Leia nodded. "So, since they know we're hunting for clues, let's create a diversion. We'll use a flashy show, carry a big stick in one hand and a delicate probe in the other."
Han's forehead creased as he thought. "What do you mean?"
"We'll take Durga up on his offer."
Han looked at her blankly. "What offer? You'd accept something from a Hutt?"
Leia shrugged. "He invited us to make a return visit of state. I'm sure he didn't mean it, but he can't back down now that the invitation's been made. Let's set up a diplomatic mission on the spot, head out to Nal Hutta as soon as possible. That way Durga will have no forewarning.”
"And," she continued, holding up one finger, "we'll be accompanied by the New Republic fleet. Wedge and Ackbar must be itching to go on some innocent-sounding war-gaming exercises. Our ships can provide an impressive show of force. If the Hutts happen to get intimidated in the process, so much the better. Let them be nervous, wondering what we're really up to, and we'll poke around to find some answers.”
Threepio piped up. "But Mistress Leia, how do you expect to learn anything if you're so obvious about it? Won't Durga the Hutt hide anything he knows?"
Leia's expression became mischievous.
"If we come in with all the flash and dazzle we can muster, he may just be blinded to what else we're doing. Meanwhile, Chewbacca and Artoo can take the Falcon and go to Nar Shaddaa, the Smugglers' Moon. It's a seedy place where all the black-market dealings come and go. Durga will be so busy hiding his cards from us, Chewie might find something important on his own."
Artoo whistled and beeped. "And Artoo, as well," Leia added. "You two poke around. See what you can find, then we'll compare notes."
Chewbacca roared his approval, and finally Leia relaxed enough to finish her lunch.
NAL HUTTA
CHAPTER 22
On the bridge of the Escort Frigate Yavaris General Wedge Antilles felt the old excitement of space combat. His ships charged into the Nal Hutta system under the pretense of Red Team/blue Team simulated battles in open territory that just happened to be near the Hutt homeworld.
"Boy, are the slugs going to be surprised,” Wedge said.
The lovely and ethereal scientist Qwi Xux left her station and joined him. "Much better than when we took over Maw Installation," she said. "At least we're not risking lives this time."
Wedge nodded. He wanted to hug her, but knew he shouldn't, since he was in command of the ship, and she was the science officer in training. The work was easy for Qwi, and she enjoyed being with Wedge. Since vowing never to work on developing new weapons systems again, the brilliant alien scientist hadn't yet found a new calling for her considerable mental energies.
"Check the status of our fleet," Wedge said to the tactical officer, who displayed a grid showing the components of Blue Team. Though the Yavaris was his flagship, it was not the largest battleship. The cornerstone of his fleet was the monstrous Assault Frigate Dodonna, a highly modified version of the fearsome Imperial Dreadnaughts. The Yavaris was smaller, but it was the ship Wedge had piloted during his successful attack on the Empire's secret laboratory, Maw Installation.
Surrounding his ships were six smaller, versatile Corellian Corvettes, whose huge banks of engines looked like rocket-launcher emplacements burning blue in the darkness of space. All his ships had strung out in a picket line, with the Dodonna and the Yavaris at the center, flanked on each side by three Corvettes. They cruised into the Nal Hutta system.
Wedge asked the comm officer, "Have we heard from Red Team yet? Has Admiral Ackbar arrived in position?"
Ackbar had taken his own complement of ships on a different approach vector: a trio of Corellian gunships, smaller than the Corvettes, and an enormous Calamarian Star Cruiser, the Galactic Voyager, one of the largest and most powerful ships in the New Republic fleet. Wedge knew, however, that sheer size and firepower did not guarantee a victory. Ackbar was to enter the system from the other side, and the two fleets would engage near Nal Hutta itself.
"Red Team confirms they are in position," the tactical officer said.
"General Antilles," the comm officer interrupted. "We have an urgent message from Nal Hutta demanding to know our purpose here."
Wedge tried to stifle a smug grin. "Let them know we're just engaging in peaceful combat exercises. No cause for alarm," he said, then muttered, "unless they try anything."
Admiral Ackbar waited for his helmsman to give the announcement. Finally the other Calamarian officer said, "Both teams in position, Admiral."
Ackbar nodded his huge head. "Prepare to engage," he said.
The Galactic Voyager was Ackbar's favorite ship in the fleet. Every one of the lumpy pod-shaped Calamarian battlecruisers followed a slightly different design devised by master shipbuilders in orbit around their world. For years the Mon Calamari had worked nonstop to replenish the losses suffered by the New Republic during fierce battles with the Empire, such as when Admiral Daala and her Star Destroyers had attacked the Calamarian shipyards and Ackbar himself had caused the destruction of the half-completed warship Startide.
Beside him General Crix Madine, the Supreme Allied Commander for Intelligence, said, "We need to keep the Hutts preoccupied and intimidated to accomplish our real mission here."
A bearded, middle-aged man, Madine had been in charge of the ground assault on Endor, which resulted in the destruction of the energy-shield generator, allowing the Rebel fleet to destroy the second Death Star. A long time ago, Madine had been an important officer in the Imperial military, but he had defected to the Alliance , bringing with him much valuable information. A good many Rebel victories had resulted from the secret intelligence Madine had delivered to Mon Mothma. He now kept a low profile, serving in his quiet role of necessary covert operations.
"Now that our fleet is in system," Madine said, "I doubt very much that the Hutts will dare misbehave when the Chief of State arrives on her diplomatic mission."
Ackbar nodded solemnly. "That may be your motivation, General Madine, but right now my purpose is to score a victory for Red Team."
As Ackbar began preparations for the engagement, Madine went to one of the sensor stations and relieved the lieutenant. Crix Madine was a hands-on person who liked to do his own busy work. He had no way of knowing when he might need to be proficient in every level of operations, so he tried to have a broad background and competence in every system on board.
Madine adjusted the Galactic Voyager's long-range scanners to zoom in on the g
reenish planet of Nal Hutta and its Smugglers' Moon, Nar Shaddaa. With the arrival of the New Republic fleet, he noted a marked increase in traffic departing from Nar Shaddaa, no doubt small-time criminals fleeing the intimidating military force. He resigned himself to letting so many lowlifes get away, but right now he couldn't be interested in the dregs of society. His real target on this mission would be much more devious.
"Blue Team has squared off in a defensive position," the tactical officer said.
Ackbar concentrated on his station. "Give me a display." Images of Wedge's fleet appeared in a picket line across space. "Very well," he said, "we will be the aggressor in this engagement." He stared at the arrangement of Blue Team's ships and shook his salmon-colored head. "I'll have to teach General Antilles a lesson in tactics and vulnerability."
Madine returned to the admiral's side.
"What do you mean?" He had always been interested in fleet maneuvers.
Ackbar pointed a flipper-hand toward the images. "We'll plunge through them like a dagger," he said. "One of our gunships in front, then the Galactic Voyager, then the other two gunships. We'll plow straight between the two frigates--those are the primary targets. The lead gunship will come in firing and pass straight through. Then the Galactic Voyager will obliterate their defenses with our superior fire-power. Finally, the second and third gunships will mop up what's left. With one pass, we'll take out the Yavaris and the Dodonna. Blue Team's flanking Corvettes will be unable to bring their weapons to bear because their own ships block the way."
"Sounds straightforward," Madine said.
"Just watch," Ackbar answered.
Wedge slumped into his command chair with a boyish grin on his square-jawed face. "He's falling for it!" He clapped his hands. "All right, Red Team just stepped across the line. We know exactly what they're going to do. Prepare for it." Wedge shook his head and looked at Qwi. "Doesn't Ackbar think I read his own tactical manuals?"
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