Star Wars The New Jedi Order - The Final Prophecy - Book 19

by Greg Keyes

  into, an odd-job unit? There was real fighting to do.

  "A few starfighters can get out of the interdiction cones. Our capital

  ships can't. Still, I doubt they're going to make it easy for you, so I

  wouldn't worry about lack of action. Anyway, there's another part to this

  deal, if you really don't fancy leaving the Bilbringi system. Our long-range

  sensors indicate that one of the Golan Two Battle Stations may still be

  operational. If things go badly here, we might be able to use it as a rally

  point, but I need it working. If it's not, and can't be made to, I need to

  know that as well. Send one of your flights to find Kre'fey and secure the

  station with the other two."

  "Yes, sir."

  "We're all counting on you, Colonel."

  Are you sure you aren't just trying to get me out of the ac-tion? she

  wondered. The numbers looked pretty even to her, since the mass jump a few

  minutes before. What was Wedge so worried about?

  That wasn't her concern, she decided. She had her orders. It wasn't the

  first time she hadn't liked them; it wouldn't be the last.

  She changed frequencies. "Twins, we just got new orders. Scimitars,

  you're on your own. Good luck."

  "Copy, Twin One."

  "Twins, follow my lead." She led the squadron straight up from the plane

  of the ecliptic and then made a hard break for open space.

  "We're running, Colonel?" Jag asked, the surprise more than evident in

  his usually reserved voice.

  "Not exactly," she said, though it felt that way.

  "We've got a head start," Eight reported. "We've got pursuers, but

  they're pretty far behind."

  He should have sent Scimitar, she thought. A-wings are faster.

  "They'll catch up, Eight," she said. " Before they do, I want some

  distance from the fleets. We're splitting up. Jag, as soon as we're out of

  range of that interdictor, you're taking Five and Six to the coordinates I'm

  sending you. We'll cover you until you've made the jump."

  "Jump, Colonel?"

  "Yes. I don't know how secure this channel is, and I'm sure somebody's

  paying a lot of attention to us just now. Make the jump and contact your

  superior there. Tell him it's all go. Do you understand?"

  "Copy. What about you?"

  "We've got another job to do."

  "Understood," Jag said.

  They were nearly clear to jump when the first of the skips closed to

  firing distance.

  "Okay," she said. "Let's give them the distance to jump. Good luck, Four.

  "

  "Copy." Jag didn't sound happy. She sighed and switched to a private

  channel.

  "Jag, I need someone I can rely on, someone with command experience. Can

  you do this, or not?"

  "I don't like it. I don't like leaving you behind."

  "Then go do your job and hurry back, okay?"

  "Yes, Colonel."

  Plasma bursts started whipping past her. "No more time to talk," she

  said. "Go."

  She rolled to port and came around. Two skips were fol-lowing close on

  Three. She dropped in behind one and started firing, meanwhile jinking to

  confuse her own pursuer. She hit one of her targets with a torp and flew

  straight into the ex-panding mass of plasma and coral. When she couldn't see

  anything, she pulled on the stick, arcing up and back...

  And dropped in behind her tail. Grimly she got him in her sights. She

  slipped a few shots through his void defenses, but apparently none hit

  anything important, because he continued on after Jag and his wingmates,

  firing constantly. She had picked up two more on her tail, and her wing-mates

  were busy elsewhere. The X-wing rocked as its shields took a heavy hit, and

  fo r a moment she lost the skip in her sights. Cappie squealed.

  The skip was going to catch Jag before he jumped.

  She fired her last torpedo and escorted it in with stutter-fire. A void

  appeared and the torp exploded before being sucked in, as it was programmed to

  do. Her laserfire riddled the skip, which erupted into an expanding ring of

  ions. Two more were coming up from the side. She wasn't going to be able to

  hold them all back.

  Then Jag and his wing were gone.

  Take care, Jag, she thought.

  She cut hard starboard and under horizon, now more concerned about the

  skips behind her than any in front. She nearly ran into one she hadn't seen.

  He was right in her sights, and she let him have it. The skip didn't explode,

  but it rolled off, obviously injured.

  "I've got you, Twin Leader," Eight said.

  Two explosions behind her, and she was suddenly clear again. The odds

  were starting to even.

  "Form up," she said. "We have to stay together, or they'll pick us off."

  Nine, in particular, was a long way from the fight. "Nine, that means you,

  too."

  "Sorry, Colonel. Can't do anything about it. I've lost an engine and my

  stabilizers are shot."

  "Hang on, then, we're coming for you."

  But it was only a few seconds later when his X-wing flashed out, struck

  by fire from three coralskippers. She watched, feeling hollow and numb. Then

  she shook it off-they were even more outnumbered now than before, and she

  realized Wedge had been right. She saw on the long-range scanners that even

  more skips were coming her way, these slingshoting around the interdictor.

  We'll be lucky if any of us survives.

  She no longer felt so bad about leaving the main battle. She could see

  the Golan now. It was still a long way away, near the edge of Bilbringi's wide

  asteroid belt.

  "Let's take 'em through the rocks, people."

  Moments later, they were dodging asteroids from the size of pebbles to

  genuine monsters. They forged in deep, and slingshotted skips changed course

  to follow. Most had the common sense to slow down when they saw where they

  were going. A few didn't, and Jaina had the satisfaction of seeing them

  pulverized against oversized rocks. Strangely, Jaina began to relax-this was

  what Twin Suns did best, fighter-to-fighter combat in dodgy circumstances. The

  yammosks handling the big fight had clearly cut these fellows loose to battle

  on their own. Bad for them.

  Another advantage was that X-wing shields repelled the small asteroids.

  Yuuzhan Vong voids actually attracted them. It wasn't a huge problem for the

  Yuuzhan Vong, be-cause any space rock small enough to be attracted by the

  pinpoint singularities could also be eaten, but if they hit a big one, the

  singularities sometimes stuck them to it. So the Twins flew tight, dodging in

  and out, letting the skips elimi-nate themselves.

  Jaina's optimism grew stronger, but she knew the victory was more

  illusion than anything else. They still had to reach the Golan station and

  bring it on-line-if they could outrun the twenty skips still after them, which

  didn't seem likely, even with them slowing down to get through the asteroids.

  If they really pushed it, they might get there with a few sec-onds to spare,

  which wouldn't give them time to do much of anything with the station,

  assuming the antique still worked. It was nowhere near the shipyard, so it

  probably hadn't been used since the days of the Empire.
The guns and every-

  thing else useful had likely been scavenged while she was still in diapers.

  She clicked her comm. "Okay, Twins, here's what we're going to do. Our

  primary objectives were to see if the station is operational and to bring it

  on-line if it was. I don't think General Antilles figured on half the fleet

  following us out here, though. We're going to get there a few seconds ahead of

  them. The rest of you will cover me while I enter the docking bay, then you're

  going to punch to the outer system."

  "Are you saying we're supposed to leave you, Sticks?"

  "With any luck, they won't see me drop in. They'll think I jumped with

  the rest of you."

  "With all due respect, Colonel, that's crazy," Two said. "General

  Antilles needs to know the status of this station, and he needs to know soon.

  If any of you can think of a better plan, tell me now."

  "Same plan, but one of us stays behind," Three said. "It doesn't make

  sense it being you, Colonel."

  It makes plenty of sense, Jaina thought. I won't send any of you on

  what's probably a suicide mission. She didn't say that, though.

  "It's the way it's happening," Jaina said. "The last thing I need right

  now is an argument."

  "Yes, Colonel. Understood."

  She had it about right-the skips were just catching up when they reached

  the station. The others fell into com-bat formations. She pretended to, and

  even squeezed off a couple of shots before making her run for the docking bay.

  She'd picked up a couple of friends by then, however. Three was right behind

  them, but there were four skips on her. Jaina's heart sank. It wasn't going to

  work. Even if she made the docking bay, they were going to notice. She was

  grimly reaching to turn when her cockpit strobed in a flash of green light,

  and another.

  In her headpiece, Twins Eight and Nine were cheering. Jaina made her turn

  and saw why. Gigantic beams of coherent light were pumping from the station's

  turrets, slag-ging skips as if they were practice targets.

  Better yet, she saw the sudden blue sheen of shields. "Colonel," Three

  said, "it's just a hunch, but I'd say you can tell General Antilles the

  station is operational."

  TWENTY-FIVE

  In the night, Nom Anor felt the villip move against his chest, signaling

  an incoming communication. He lay qui-etly, wondering if he could leave the

  rock shelter unob-served. The Jedi slept lightly, and so did Harrar-besides,

  despite the fact that they hadn't seen any animals more dan-gerous than a

  dhillith, the older Jedi insisted on keeping watches, and Tahiri was on watch

  at the moment. His own shift would begin in a few hours-why couldn't the

  signal have come then?

  Cursing silently, he lay there until the villip ceased quiv-ering, but

  did not sleep again. Shimrra did not like to be ig-nored or delayed, and

  excuses rarely got one far with the Supreme Overlord. He felt his last, best

  chance at recon-ciliation slipping from him.

  If he could kill Tahiri without waking the others... Yes, and if a wish

  was a dha'eh, the maw luur would all be choked. So he stayed there, trying to

  keep his muscles from twitching.

  When at last his watch arrived and he took Tahiri's place on the outjut

  above the cave, he still dared not reply to the other end of the connection

  until enough time had passed that he could be relatively certain she was

  asleep. Finally, more than an hour after he took the post, he climbed a little

  higher up the hill to be sure he was out of earshot of anyone who might be

  awake, and once again un-sealed the bag and stroked the creature to life.

  For long moments, nothing happened, but then a face ap-peared, a hideous,

  distorted face.

  With a faint shock he realized it was Shimrra's jester, Onimi.

  "Nom Anor," the jester burbled. "Nom Anor, Nom Anor, your reputation we

  deplore, the bumbling failed executor..."

  "I must speak with Shimrra," Nom Anor whispered fiercely. "Quickly,

  before our enemies discover us."

  "Our enemies?" Onimi burbled. "What fortress will we ever stand in

  together, ever, whether, sever again?"

  "Tell him it concerns Zonama Sekot. Tell him-" The face suddenly melted,

  and a new, infinitely more terrifying one took its place. Nom Anor shivered,

  and for an instant he wanted to crush the villip, throw it in a deep pool, and

  return to his role as Prophet.

  He thought about his disciples, his diseased, pathetic, gullible...

  "Nom Anor," the villip growled, unable to actually convey the profound,

  bone-shivering bass of Shimrra's voice but suggesting it well enough. "Most

  unworthy and perverse of my servants. What could you possibly want?"

  "Only to serve you, Lord."

  "You would have served me best to have given yourself over to sacrifice

  after the disaster you caused on Ebaq Nine."

  "I could not, Great Lord," he said. "I was captured, cap-tured by the

  Jeedai. I have been their captive since that time."

  "Indeed. It was very considerate of them to allow you the use of a

  villip."

  "I secreted it upon my person. It went undiscovered."

  "Then why did you not use it earlier?" the Supreme Overlord rumbled.

  "I was observed, always observed. But I have won their confidence now."

  "Enough," Shimrra snapped. "You mention Zonama Sekot. That world has been

  destroyed."

  "It has not, Dread Lord. I am upon it, along with the shaper Nen Yim and

  the priest Harrar. They have allied with the Jeedai, Lord Shimrra. Against

  you. Against us."

  "Harrar? You would have me take your word that Harrar is a traitor?"

  "Summon him, my lord. You will find him absent from Yuuzhan'tar, and

  indeed from Yuuzhan Vong space. As is Nen Yim."

  For an interminable period, Shimrra said nothing.

  "Go on," he finally said.

  "With me are also two Jeedai - Corran Horn, who slew Shedao Shai, and

  Tahiri, the one-who-was-shaped." He took a deep breath. "Lord, Luke Skywalker

  is also here, the chief of them all, and Mara Jade Skywalker."

  "On Zonama Sekot." The Supreme Overlord's tone car-ried an almost

  unimaginable tinge of fear.

  It almost stopped Nom Anor from g oing on. But he tight-ened his resolve

  and plunged ahead. "Yes, Dread Lord. They have come to persuade the planet to

  join them against us."

  "So. So." Shimrra's voice rumbled away. It returned a moment later. " You

  know how to reach this planet?"

  "My villip can be made to serve as a tracer. You may use Phaa Anor's

  villip to find me. A shaper can make the neces-sary modifications."

  "Lead me to Zonama Sekot, Nom Anor, and you will find the gods smile on

  you again. 7 will smile on you again."

  "That is my only wish, Dread Lord. To serve you as I once did."

  "I should hope you will serve me better." Shimrra paused.

  "Based on our past experiences, it will require overwhelming force to

  destroy this cursed planet. Much of our fleet is pres-ently engaged. Indeed, I

  consider it possible, Nom Anoi;; that you may yet be a traitor trying to lure

  my fleet there so * the infidels can take Yuuzhan'tar."

  "No fleet is necessary
, Dread Lord. There is an Imperial frigate above

  this planet, and doubtless Skywalker has a' ship. Send one ship to deal with

  them, and a landing craftto find me. That is all that is required."

  "Fool," Shimrra grunted. "The problem is not with in-fidel ships, but

  with the planet itself."

  "The planet will not present a problem, Lord Shimrra. 1 have the means to

  sabotage it. By the time your ships arrive here, it shall be occupied with its

  own death."

  TWENTY-SIX

  Jaina's comm registered a hail, not on the battle frequen-cies. She

  switched over.

  "There you are," a voice on the other end said.

  "Yes," Jaina replied. "Thanks for the assist just now. But if you don't

  mind my asking, who in the galaxy is this?"

  "My name is Erli Prann," he replied. "I'm in charge of this battle

  station."

  "You realize you're in Yuuzhan Vong-held space, and have been for a long

  time."

  "Yes. It's a long story. What's going on out there?"

  "Just what it looks like. We're retaking Bilbringi. But things haven't

  gone exactly according to plan, and the gen-eral sent me out to see if this

  station is still operational. Looks like it is."

  "It's in pretty good shape," Prann said proudly. "We'd be glad to be of

  any assistance we can. If you want to come aboard, I'll show you what we've

  got."

  "That's great," Jaina said. "Just assign me a berth."

  "What about the rest of your pilots?"

  "There are still Vong out there. I expect they'll be headed this way

  after that display you just put on. I think I'll keep them out there to help

  with the defense."

  "Copy," Prann said. "Come on in. Berth Seven-you'll see the beacon."

  Jaina slipped her X-wing into the docking bay without a mishap. She

  waited as the doors closed and the area outside was pressurized, then unsealed

  her cockpit and stepped out onto the deck. The bay was massive, but her ship

  was the only one she saw. It looked a little lonely in all that space. On the

  far end she noticed a lot of carbon scoring on the walls, as if there had been

  an explosion of fire.

  "Welcome aboard!"

  Jaina looked over to see her reception committee-two humans and a Rodian,

  all wearing the uniform of the old Bilbringi defense force-dark blue slacks

  and military-style blue jackets over gold-colored shirts.