The Unifying Force Read online

  expected otherwise of a planetary government that had supported the

  -mperor during the Galactic Civil War, and had since been forced to

  guish in Coruscant's shadow. Regardless, most of Corulag's ten

  ion citizens opposed the puppet government set up by the

  auzhan Vong, and simmering discontent had finally erupted into

  334

  open rebellion. The wealthiest and most influential families fled f Kuat and Commenor, but there was no evading the Yuuzhan Vn Kuat had fallen soon after Senator Pwoe's brief visit, and Cornrnen had been hit hard and repeatedly. Galvanized by the rescue Corulag's unofficial hero, Judder Page, resistance groups on- and off world had reached out to the Alliance for help in liberating the plan at whatever costs to life and limb. Sow and Kre'fey couldn't hav' been more receptive to insystem support for an invasion. If Corula could be reclaimed, the Alliance would hold a key hyperspace position in the Core.

  Even two standard months earlier, an assault would have proved catastrophic. Yuuzhan Vong forces had been deployed well into the Slice, from Coruscant through Alsakan almost all the way to Corulag and from Ixtlar and Wukkar on the Corellian Run a quarter of the way around the Core toward Kuat and Commenor. But with dozens of battle groups withdrawn to join the armada, Corulag had been left vulnerable at last.

  Wedge's gaze was still glued to the displays when Captain Deevis drew his attention to a tight formation of fighter craft emerging from Corulag's crescent of transitor.

  "TIEs," Wedge said in genuine surprise. "Ours or theirs?" "I'm not sure, sir." "Then find out!"

  "Transmission from Curamelle," Lieutenant Cel interrupted while Deevis was hurrying off. "Governor Forridel, sir."

  Wedge recognized the name of Corulag's capital city, but not the name of the governor. Nodding curtly to the comm officer, he swung to the holoprojector, where a quarter-scale human figure stood in the noisy field.

  "We've been waiting almost two years for this," Forridel said jubilantly. Sporting an eye patch and a floppy cap, he could have stepped from a suspense holodrama. "Corulag will forever be indebted to the Alliance."

  "The battle's not won yet," Wedge said. "And just who are you, anyway?"

  c rridel saluted — awkwardly. "The resistance has appointed me

  isional governor."

  "Where's the former governor?"

  Forridel smiled. "I'm glad you asked, because I've been eager to

  y°u-" Images from what were obviously Curamelle media feeds began to

  Ive in the holofield. One showed the former governor hanging by neck in a city square while a lynch mob of humans and humanoids id nim with stones. Other scenes showed bound and bloodied Yuuzhan Vong and other members of the occupation government being dragged or shoved through the streets by crowds of vigilantes.

  Wedge was thankful that he hadn't been asked to oversee ground-based operations, as he had done at Borleias. Soon enough, similar scenes of vengeance would be repeated on countless worlds. The rage was understandable, and reminiscent of the retributions that had been doled out to Imperial forces in the wake of the Emperor's death. And Wedge held little sympathy for the captured Yuuzhan Vong warriors. All his life he had fought for what he believed in, and for the protection of those he loved — lella, his daughters, his sister, and friends — and the Yuuzhan Vong had nearly torn his world and family apart. A point could be made that the Yuuzhan Vong fought for similar reasons, but the invaders had yet to demonstrate even an instance of charity or tolerance. Worship and blind obedience substituted for love and honor.

  And yet, for all his soldier's resolve, Wedge recognized that he could still be rattled by a canny glance from Luke Skywalker. Listening to him and Mara address the command staff on Ralroost, Wedge had been struck once more by the fact that the Alliance and tne Jedi were waging very different wars against the Yuuzhan Vong. Where Alliance command measured victory in terms of control, the h were focused on a means of ending the war that would also conclude a cycle of violence. Luke feared that the extermination of the uuzhan Vong would deal a death blow to the newly hatched Galactic Deration of Free Alliances. With a single step toward the dark side, rate of future generations would be sealed. ™ was true with the Yuuzhan Vong, the Jedi were prepared to

  martyr themselves to an ideal. Both were fighting to sustain a worldvi At the center of one stood the gods; at the center of the other

  r ' the

  Force.

  Wedge wondered what might become of those Yuuzhan V who weren't burned or beaten to death in the streets of Curarnell some other once-occupied capital city. What was the next step aft disarmament? Imprisonment? Exile? Could an entire species be n on trial for its beliefs? And even if found guilty of war crimes, would the Yuuzhan Vong permit themselves to be isolated under guard in some remote star system, or would their defeat—the fact that the • had failed their gods—drive them to self-destruction? Should self-extinction be accepted as an alternative because death figured so strongly in their society, or would the death of the extragalactic species upset the balance of the Force in some fashion?

  That such questions were best left to the Jedi was the reason Wedge, Keyan Farlander, certainly Tenel Ka, and many other Alliance commanders had implicit faith in Luke's leadership. At Borleias, when Wedge himself had formed the secret resistance group known as the Insiders, he had essentially made a pact with the Force, and felt duty-bound to uphold it.

  "You've ended a reign of evil, General Antilles," Forridel was saying from the holofield. "You should be proud."

  Wedge cut the provisional governor off before he could continue. "Our scanners have picked up a squadron of TIE fighters launched from Curamelle."

  "Peace Brigaders," Forridel explained. "The fighters were restored from parts warehoused at the old Imperial Academy. Hunt them down, General! Don't leave a single ship unscathed!"

  "That's all the information I need at the moment, Governor. Wedge waved for Lieutenant Cel to end the holotransmission with Curamelle, then said: "Alert General Celchu that those TIEs are not friendlies. Tell him that Harbinger has his back if he needs help dealing with them."

  The fighting above night-side Corulag was heating up. Coralskip pers and snubfighters were engaged in a mad dance of mutual destruc tion, while the capital ships they flew from were attempting *

  one another senseless with plasma missiles and energy bolts.

  oun^

  elobules of the cluster vessel had imploded, but judging by the

  .. rmance of the swarming skips, the war coordinator was unin-

  A On the moon, bombers were continuing to hammer the repair

  Ihtion, but they were now taking fire from ground-based KDY

  holasers—probably refurbished by the same turncoat technicians

  vvho had resurrected the TIEs.

  "Sir Admiral Kre'fey," Cel said from her duty station. Wedge strode back to the holoprojector in time to see Kre'fey's 'mage take shape amid random bursts of diagonal static. "General Antilles," the Bothan began, "on your say-so I'm prepared to move

  nd elements of the First Fleet to Corulag."

  Wedge shook his head. "We need more time here, Admiral. A couple of standard hours, at least."

  "You have one hour, General," Kre'fey said evenly. "We've received word from Coruscant that our actions at Corulag have not gone unnoticed. Nas Choka's armada is active. It's not clear just yet whether the warmaster is repositioning his vessels to defend Coruscant, or if he intends to move the armada Rimward in advance of going to hyperspace. If it's the latter, I doubt he'll squander his forces by reinforcing Corulag. He may, however, elect to jump the armada to Contruum, and I want to be gone from here by then." "Where do you want us?" Wedge asked.

  "Take Man Adapyne and Ele/jos A'Kla and rally with the Second Fleet at Muscave. I realize I'm placing your battle group in harm's way by sending you directly into the Coruscant system, but our objective is to accomplish the reverse of what we did at Mon Calamari, by dr
awing the enemy into engagements at outer-system worlds. Concurrently, I'll be dispatching elements of the Third Fleet to Coruscant from the Shawken Spur of the Hydian, and elements of the Fourth by vaV of the Martial Cross. Regardless of whether the armada jumps for '°ntruum or advances to engage your forces at Muscave, the assault Coruscant can commence."

  Did I hear right that Vanguard Squadron has been attached to ^ Fourth Fleet?" Wedge asked. "That's correct."

  "That means that the Chiss will be directly involved in the on Coruscant."

  "Vanguard and Twin Suns have been folded into a squadron, commanded by Group Commander Fel."

  Wedge was perplexed. "Jag is leading Twin Suns? Where's Jai

  "Jedi Skywalker asked that we exempt her from the rost Kre'fey muttered. "I recognize that Coruscant is a long way from Ch' space, and I know that you're concerned for the welfare of v nephew, Wedge. But Jag himself requested the mission."

  Wedge nodded. "I'll just have to find a way to explain to my siste why I didn't talk some sense into her son."

  Kre'fey gestured noncommittally. "Colonel Fel's group, alone with Rogue and Wraith Squadrons, will fly escort for the troop transports and gunships we hope to slip through Coruscant's dovin basal gravitic wells. Once planetside, Captain Page's commando company will rendezvous with resistance forces and proceed to the landing field at what was Westport."

  Man Mothma's tactical officer sent a star chart of the Coruscant system to the holoprojector. Wedge saw that Coruscant and the outer worlds of Muscave and Stentat were all on the same side of the sun, within sixty degrees of one another. Calculating the time required for the hyperspace jump to Muscave, Wedge's battle group would be arriving just as Shimrra's Citadel and the sacred precinct were heading into daybreak.

  "Admiral, is Zonama Sekot still orbiting between Muscave and Stentat?"

  "To the best of our knowledge," Kre'fey said. "But that planet is the Jedi's problem, not ours."

  Even before the transmission from Ralroost faded, Wedge spun on his heel to Lieutenant Cel. "Inform Generals Celchu and Farlander that we will be repositioning in one standard hour. Then find me a secure frequency to Errant Venture, and patch it through to my comlink.

  Replacing his command cap with a headset, Wedge paced awa) from the bridge duty stations while the link to Booster Terrik's Star Destroyer was being established.

  "Insider One, your transmission is secure," a voice said through

  jcre's earphones. "Lando here, Wedge."

  Wedge adjusted the fit of the headset. "Lando, in just under a

  Hard hour I'll be repositioning my group to Muscave."

  "Good news. That means Zonama Sekot will be inside your

  lines

  "Not as good as it sounds. Alliance command has written the

  planet

  off as the Jedi's concern."

  CL vyi* -

  "You think it'll go to hyperspace?"

  "I don't know, Lando. But some of us should be there in case anyone needs to be evacuated."

  "You can count on us, Insider One. I'll also pass the word to

  Tenel Ka."

  "May the Force be with you, Lando."

  "It had better be."

  Mired at Contruum for longer than they had anticipated, Luke and Mara had missed the seed-partners ceremony, but everyone who had participated was still talking about it long after Jade Shadow returned to Zonama Sekot.

  Kyp, Corran, and Saba spoke in wonderment of having been led across a symbolic bridge and through a lamina-surfaced tunnel into concealed courtyards, filled with Ferroan celebrants wearing brightly colored costumes. Having adhered to a special diet, the Jedi candidates had worn sashed robes and necklaces strung with bloodred, gourdlike fruits. Following a series of litanies chanted by Magister Jabitha and the Ferroans, each of the candidates had had to offer a gift, and introduce him- or herself to Sekot, in a way that reminded Kyp of the ceremony that had taken place at Ithor, four years earlier. nnally, the seed-partners—emerged from their shells as pale oblate libs, with eyespots and tiny grasper-equipped legs—had been sepa-lted from their bond partners and conveyed to the cybernetic organ-1118 that would summon lightning and give shape to the living ships Wuced from the seeds. Bred by Zonama Sekot's original magisters, le cyborgs were known as the Jentari.

  After listening to a dozen separate accounts of the ceremony f as many Jedi, Luke almost felt as if he had attended it personally he was eager to see the living ships. Sekot had had extensive conv tions with Danni, and now Cilghal, about dovin basals; and Lowb and others were trying to figure a way to use comlinks for ship-to- 1 communication.

  With so much information to catch up on, Luke had decided wait for the proper moment to report on the briefings at Contruu He chose to do that in the Skywalkers' cliff dwelling, even thou h few Jedi were present. Assembled were Jacen, Jaina, Kyp, Corran Saba, Tahiri, Danni, Han, Leia, Magister Jabitha, Harrar, C-3PO and R2-D2.

  Jacen was the first one to comment on Luke's lengthy summary

  "Did you explain to Admiral Kre'fey what the World Brain will do if Coruscant's attacked?"

  "Half of the command staff has dismissed the report you furnished," Luke said, "and the other half just doesn't want to believe it."

  Han growled in exasperation. "Forget about the World Brain. Can Kre'fey even get past the planetary dovin basals?"

  Mara glanced at Luke. "You know, they never really answered that question. Sow said that they weren't worried about the dovin basals."

  "I think I know why," Luke said. "Zonama Sekot not only tugged one of Coruscant's moons out of orbit, but also tore apart the planetary ring that the Yuuzhan Vong manufactured from the moon they managed to shatter. The dovin basals are probably so busy dealing with infalling debris that they can now be overwhelmed by lasers, concussion missiles, and whatever else Kre'fey plans to hurl at them."

  "That still won't stop the World Brain from carrying out i tasks," Jacen said.

  "That's correct," Harrar said, then looked questioningly at face0'

  "I wasn't able to communicate with the dhuryam while we Nver in the Unknown Regions, and I haven't been able to sense it m same way since we got back."

  «Tt en perhaps Shimrra has managed to establish a rapport with Harrar turned to Luke. "You must understand: Shimrra is

  ht' prn''

  ordinary Yuuzhan Vong. His body and his mind have been

  •d His powers surpass those of other Supreme Overlords."

  r »ii forced a sad exhalation. "Hundreds of thousands will die, , the planet will be of no use to anyone." "Unless we can get to Shimrra first," Luke said. Harrar nodded. "The Supreme Overlord is our ultimate weapon. TI 's war cannot possibly be won without defeating him. Because SI 'mrra is our sole conduit to the gods, his capture or death will prove haotic for Nas Choka's warriors and Jakan's priests. Without Shimrra's intercession, the gods will not be able to help or intervene in anv way. Separated from the gods, the warriors and priests will be bereft. But capturing Shimrra — let alone killing him — will be exceedingly difficult. He is well protected by skillful guards, and by the \orldship itself, which responds to him, much as Yuuzhan'tar responds to the World Brain."

  "Can the Citadel be penetrated?" Luke asked. "With the armada fending off an attack, the dovin basals and World Brain preoccupied, the Shamed Ones in revolt . . . Yes, it might be possible to infiltrate with a small force. I could advise you on the best route."

  "You'd do that?" Leia said, gazing at Harrar. The priest nodded. "I said I would do everything in my power to help end this conflict. Nothing has happened to cause me to reconsider that."

  "Who and how many of us?" Kyp asked.

  Luke thought for a moment. "Not more than six of us. And no °ne who is waiting for a Sekotan ship."

  Kyp nodded, and Han and Leia traded uncertain glances. "Where's that leave the rest of us?" Han asked. Before Luke could answer the question, Kenth, Cilghal, and Low-1 entered the cliff dwelling — the Wookiee ducking low enough to
from banging his furry head into the crude beams that spanned e high ceiling.

  "Someone commed/0^ Shadow" Luke said.

  Kenth nodded. "The Alliance has reclaimed Corulag.

  battle group has been ordered to Muscave, to lure the armada

  [«

  from Coruscant, so the major offensive can begin."

  "Then the war is coming to us," Jabitha said softly.

  "Errant Venture is on the way here," Cilghal added, "in you're thinking of evacuating the Ferroans — or anyone else."

  Jaina shot to her feet. "I should be with my squadron."

  Mara looked at her. "You are, Jaina."

  "How's that?" she asked harshly "I'm not in line for a living shin and my X-wing is still in stationary orbit."

  "I mean that you're needed here," Mara said calmly.

  While Jaina stared at her aunt in indecision, Han put his arm around Jaina's waist. "Let's just see how things develop, okay?"

  Jaina nodded mutely.

  "Should Sekot be warned?" Danni asked.

  "I'm sure Sekot already knows," Luke said. "I think that's the reason Sekot agreed to provide us with ships."

  "I must caution all of you that the Sekotan ships are for defense only," Jabitha interjected. "Zonama has other defensive weapons, but Sekot has not spoken of those in some time."

  Mara looked at Luke. "Presumably the same ones that repelled the original Far Outsiders, and annihilated Commander Val's forces at Klasse Ephemera," Luke said.

  "Luke, we're talking about an armada" Han thought to point out. "Sekot might want to at least think about warming up the hyper-space drives."

  Jabitha shook her head. "Flight would be a demonstration of fear-Zonama Sekot will not flee a second time. Especially now, with so much at stake."

  Danni glanced around in puzzlement. "It's irrelevant, isn't it. Zonama Sekot is an evil omen for the Yuuzhan Vong, then Shimrr< would want his forces to give it the widest berth."