The Unifying Force Page 36

  A contour map resolved on the cockpit navigational display, showing the buildings and features of the so-called sacred precinct, from the craggy mountain that was Shimrra's worldship Citadel to the domelike structure that housed and protected the World Brain—wnat had once been the most affluent and fashionable area of the planet. A counter at the bottom of the screen showed the distance remaining the scorched landing zone, which was surrounded by dense forest an yorik coral outcroppings.

  Without warning, enemy artillery fire erupted from the tree U around the clearing, fountaining molten ejecta and flaming projecti

  high

  to the air. Flying nap of the forest, Jag spotted the distinctive rke spine plates of the armored beast the Yuuzhan Vong called a and the Alliance knew as a range. The blue-green reptilian res were the size of small buildings, and on Borleias had proved jmost impossible to stop.

  "That plasma is coming from a range, east of the landing zone," ud over the tactical net. "Shawnkyr, Eprill, see if you can hold it ", |ong enough for Page's Commandos to insert." "On our way, Colonel," Shawnkyr responded. At Borleias, she had urged Jag to return to their native Chiss oace Now she was as much an Alliance pilot as he was.

  Dodging projectiles, Jag banked over the forest. He was doubling back to the transport when he finally caught sight of its sister ship, ten kilometers to the south and covered stem to stern in grutchins.

  The Yellow Aces were pursing the out-of-control vessel and using their lasers to dislodge the grutchins, as if picking vermin off a pet. But the acid-producing, globular-eyed insectoids had ingested large areas of the hull and, judging by the way the transport was wobbling, had already infiltrated the cabin spaces. Jag watched helplessly as the vessel bellied into the forest, cutting a wide, burning swath through the trees. Sliding for a kilometer or more, it tipped nose-first over the rim of a deep crevasse and began a slow descent toward the bottom.

  Closer to the lasered clearing, Rogue and Twin Suns snubfighters were making paired strafing runs over the rakamat and Yuuzhan Vong infantry units, creating an inferno with lasers and proton torpedoes.

  Slowed by its repulsorlift engines, number one transport was a few

  kilometers short of the laser-denuded tableland when a large hatch

  opened in its ventral surface. First to exit the hatch were YVH droids,

  °'ded into foam-filled crash canisters. Then, sheathed in enviro-suits

  i harnessed into jet packs, came Page's company, soaring from the

  •tangular opening and spiraling down to the surface. The pilots of

  raitn Squadron followed, setting their X-wings down and scram-

  bllng from the cockpits.

  Jag swung wide to make another pass over the forest.

  projectiles streaking out of the trees, Gavin Darklighter's

  Rogues buzzed like angry hornets, torching everything that

  Jag was racing to join them when a fireball caught the clawcraft

  behind, blowing away pieces of the starboard solar panels and send' ^

  him into an uncontrollable spin. ^

  The crowns of the trees rushed up at him, then patches of s

  ground. The clawcraft whined as it slammed into the canonv

  F)i and darkness engulfed him.

  The view forward from the plush cockpit of Lady Luck revealed panorama of stroboscopic globular explosions stretched across, as w II as two or three degrees above and below, the ecliptic plane.

  "That was the Alliance's salvo," Lando told Tendra.

  Her mouth was slightly ajar, she was shaking her head in amazement. "I've never seen anything that was at once so beautiful and so dreadful." Tall, even for a Sacorrian, Tendra was a regal beauty, with sparkling brown eyes and full lips.

  The SoroSuub luxury yacht, a somewhat flattened and oblate vessel, was well inside the Alliance lines, but close enough for long-range scanners to capture the continuous exchanges of fire, if not detail the individual warships themselves. Lando knew that Wedge was out there somewhere, along with countless other friends and comrades he had known from as far back as the Battle of Endor.

  He couldn't remember a time when he had felt so small or alone. In a gesture that combined affection and anguish, he tightened his grip on Tendra's hand.

  No sooner had the spherical explosions faded than a pyrotechnic

  display of what might have been fire-tailed comets rocketed from

  unseen sources, splaying against deflector screens too distant to dis

  cern, and in some cases creating explosions of their own. '

  "Nas Choka's response," Lando said dryly.

  He flipped a switch on the communications console and swiveled nis chair slightly toward the cockpit's audio pickups. "You watching this.

  "Can't take my eyes away," Talon Karrde answered from Wt Karrde, five hundred kilometers Rimward and, like Lady Luck, r° ning mostly silent.

  Scores of other starfighters, converted yachts, and blockade ^

  ... j wjth the loosely knit Smugglers' Alliance were deployed nt'rS ' Wild Karrde and Errant Venture, which was closest to Sekot, and thus almost a quarter of the way to the outer-

  , world of Stentat.

  w long are we just going to sit here and watch?" Lando asked

  Talon-Talon laughed bitterly. "Now is as good a time as any to make our

  r but skillful contribution to the cause."

  "Ml right, then." Lando straightened up his seat and was oaring to wake up the ship's systems when Talon commed him

  again.

  "Hold on a minute, hero. My scanners are picking up something

  peculiar. I'm sending you the coordinates now. You might want to

  have a look."

  Tendra was already realigning the scanners when Lando glanced at the display screen. A sizable number of Yuuzhan Vong ships had separated from the main body of the armada. Accreting velocity, the group was vectoring for the sunward fringe of the battle belt.

  "A flanking maneuver?" Lando said. "Maybe an attempt to jump behind Alliance lines?"

  "I don't think so," Talon answered. "When they pulled this stunt at Mon Calamari, the ships jumped for Contruum."

  Lando frowned. "Kre'fey's long gone from Contruum. But they could be hoping to bait Wedge's battle group into pursuing them."

  "Unless they're heading back to Coruscant."

  Tendra dialed the scanners to maximum magnification. The computer-assisted portrait painted by the instruments showed a diamond-shaped formation of destroyer and heavy cruiser analogs, with a solitary but otherwise unremarkable vessel occupying the center.

  "Major firepower," Lando said. They're going to hyperspace," Talon updated. Did you get a departure vector?"

  "Coming up," Talon said.

  Lando and Tendra heard Talon expel his breath in unhappy surprise.

  "Zonama Sekot," Lando surmised.

  "Didn't that Vong priest, Harrar, say that Shimrra wasn't lik i

  risk an attack?" °

  "Guess he doesn't know his Supreme Overlord as well as he th'

  he does." 'nks

  "I'll let Booster know."

  Lando silenced the comm and swung to his wife.

  "Navicomputer is plotting a course to Zonama Sekot," Tend said.

  ',

  Gingerly, Han placed the palms of his hands against the faint] glowing hull of the Sekotan ship. Warm to the touch, the perfect! smooth skin was a shimmering green, lit from within in a way that brought to mind the bioluminescence of some denizens of the deep ocean. Low to the ground, broad where the cockpit was, and composed of three seamlessly joined oval lobes, the ship was a smaller version of the shuttle that had carried him from the Falcon to the surface of the planet. But unlike the shuttle, it was armed with plasma cannons that might have been—and probably were—patterned after those of a coralskipper.

  Speechless, Han continued his survey of the wondrous ship. Small compared to Jade Shadow, which sat on its hardstand nearby, the Sekotan fighter was e
quivalent to an X-wing in size, though it more closely resembled a vintage Surronian Conqueror or one of the latest generation of Mon Calamarian starfighters. The single-pilot cockpit was an all-too-organic shade of red—made more unnerving by an instrument array that pulsed and throbbed.

  The gentle internal radiance of the tripartite fuselage was most intense along the forward edges, which were knife-sharp. In contrast, the trailing edges were rounded over, with the drive tucked into the space between the two rear lobes. Han had overheard Magister Jabitha tell Kyp that the original Sekotan ships had had Haor Chal type-seven Silver-chss light starship engines, with expensive hype drive core units and organiform circuitry. But the ships the Jentan na built for the Jedi lacked a conventional drive—unless dovin t>a analogs had come to be considered standard equipment.

  The similarity to coralskippers didn't end with gravitic propu's

  -[d volcano-like weapons emplacements. Though it required

  who had bonded with its formative seed-partners, a Sekotan

  s alive and, to a degree, capable of independent action.

  wasn't the only person in awe. Working overtime, the Jentari

  able to shape ships for all the Jedi who had participated in

  li'lLi P^- l

  - >nt ceremony. Delivered from the cybernetic assembly lines by

  manta-shaped dirigibles, the Sekotan fighters crowded the

  n-rim landing platform. None of them had been flown, but Han

  Id feel the eagerness of the pilots—Kyp, Corran, Lowbacca, dark-

  lected Markre Medjev, facially scarred Waxarn Kel, the stocky

  rinndrilan woman Octa Ramis, slight Tarn Azur-Jamin, gallant Kyle

  Katarn, the ever-brooding Zekk, the Barabel Saba Sebatyne, and the

  Twi'lek female Alema Rar—all of whom were circling their individual

  crafts, much as Han was circling Kyp's.

  "Well, she's not the Falcon" Han said, "but I'm sure she'll do until the next living ship comes along."

  Kyp took his gaze from the ship long enough to glance at Han and laugh. "Wish I could tell you to take it for a spin." Han nodded. "Yeah, I wish you could, too." Distracted, Han wasn't aware of Leia's approach until she slipped her arm through his and rested her head against his shoulder. He turned slightly, expecting to see her smiling as broadly as he was. Instead, she was anything but joyful. "What's wrong?"

  "Luke just heard from Booster. A Yuuzhan Vong battle group is headed here."

  Han stared at her. "I thought—"

  It was all he got out before Luke, Mara, Jaina, Danni, Kenth, and

  ;°me of the other Jedi arrived at the landing platform. The last to

  how up Were Magister Jabitha, Jacen, and Harrar. The pilots hurried

  n their Sekotan ships to join the circle that quickly took shape

  afound Luke.

  We were hoping for more time, but that's not going to happen,"

  - began. "The Yuuzhan Vong are on the way, which means you're

  8 to have to get your ships airborne and give yourselves a crash

  lrse in piloting them." He swung to face Tesar Sebatyne. "The

  shuttle will take you and the rest of the Wild Knights to your and fighters."

  Saba nodded to her son. "Good hunting, Tesar."

  "Now do I get to fly my X-wing?" Jaina asked.

  Mara shot her a cautionary look. "We've been through this "

  "But—"

  "May I say something?" Harrar said.

  Everyone turned to him in surprise.

  "Assuming some of you are going to Coruscant, your war na will benefit by having both Jaina Solo and Jacen Solo as cornrad Our warriors are very superstitious, and the sight of the celebrated Jedi twins — united — could demoralize them. The capture of one such as Jaina Solo would count for more than her death." The priest paused to glance around. "Our forces failed at Borleias because Supreme Commander Czulkang Lah was fixated on capturing the Jedi who had come to be associated with Yun-Harla. It was my personal failing that I supported Czulkang Lah's actions."

  Tahiri looked at Jaina. "At Borleias I told you not to accompany Luke and Mara to Coruscant, because I was afraid that your presence would endanger them. Now I agree with Harrar that you should go."

  Jaina folded her arms across her chest. "Nice to see that everyone is so comfortable with deciding my destiny."

  Jabitha stepped forward before anyone could respond. "Sekot has requested that Cilghal, Tekli, and Danni Quee remain on Zonama."

  Danni looked at Luke in stark confusion. "I thought I'd be going with you and Mara to Coruscant."

  Luke shook his head. "Sekot obviously feels that you're needed here."

  «

  "If I can accept not flying, then you can accept staying here, Jaina said.

  Han and Leia traded uneasy looks.

  Luke took his lightsaber from his belt, ignited the blade, and he < it over his head. Wordlessly, the other Jedi began to follow s Taking note of Leia's hesitation, Han nodded in encouragement.

  "Go," he said quietly, "you're as much a Jedi as any of them-

  The Jedi tightened up around Luke, angling their lightsa

  that the tips pointed toward his, and in the end creating a Colorful blades that thrummed ominously in the crisp air. -This day has been years in the making. What we do from this

  " nt forward will test our fealty to the Force in a way that the Jedi

  7t been tested in more than a generation. Be mindful that we are the purveyors of conflict and inequity, but the guardians of peace , :usnce. Above all, we want what the Force wants, no matter •here that leads us. If some of us are not seen again today, that , not mean that our actions will have been in vain or will not be

  remembered."

  Han looked to those who didn't have lightsabers—the few outside the circle: Jabitha, Harrar, and Danni—wondering where he fit in. But he added his voice to the rest when they said, as one, "May the force be

  with us!"

  IBHBB^ cei

  cepter of Power grasped in his right hand and trailed by a cortege of eight slayers, Shimrra marched into the Hall of Convergence, his legs propelling him in such long strides that Onimi was compelled to run to keep up. Alerted to his approach, everyone present in the vaulted chamber—Nom Anor included—had already assumed attitudes of obeisance. The warriors were down on one knee, and the four seers had their heads inclined in reverent if apprehensive bows. The hall smelled strongly of sacrificial blood, yorik coral dust, and incense, and suddenly of floral scents as the Supreme Overlord's bare feet crushed the flower petals that had been scattered for him.

  Shimrra went directly to his ray-backed throne, but sat for only a moment before rising and beginning to pace back and forth, a confused Onimi following in the wake of the Supreme Overlord's pliant flayed-skin robe.

  , f>

  "Why was I summoned from my meditation with the gods. Shimrra demanded of no one in particular. "Is my role in our nnal campaign less than yours, Supreme Commander Laait?" He gaze balefully at the seers. "Or yours?"

  Laait remained in genuflection. "Supreme One, the bade that I seek audience with you as soon as you would permit-

  «TS Warmaster Nas Choka's inactivity such that he can find time communicate with the likes of you?"

  "Dread Lord, the warmaster had been anything but idle," Laait • 4 vith a hint of exasperation. "Engaged at Muscave, his forces over-

  , those of our enemy. Thus was he able to dispatch to Zonama tot a task force that escorts and safeguards the ailing vessel that is

  our secret weapon."

  Shimrra made a fatigued sound. "I need to hear this from your uth, Supreme Commander? Did I not just say that your urgent entreaty found me deep in rapport with the gods?"

  Laait snapped his fists to his shoulders in salute. "I beg forgiveness Great One. Then assuredly you already know that Zonama Sekot appeared to be undefended, save for a handful of enemy fighters."

  "Assuredly."
>
  "And that the task force commander dispatched coralskippers to

  engage those fighters."

  "What of it?" Shimrra said heatedly. "Would you hold me prisoner here with your pointless statements?"

  Again Laait snapped his fists. "Of course the gods told you, Lord, that the coralskippers have met with resistance from living vessels."

  Shimrra came to an abrupt halt and stared at the Supreme Commander.

  "Dread Lord," Onimi said, as if to prompt a response. "Living vessels, you say," Shimrra said finally. Laait nodded in acknowledgment. "Vessels that not only match our coralskippers for size and speed, but also are propelled by gravitic infinity, and answer our plasma weapons with theirs.''''

  Shimrra pointed to the hall's villip-choir. "I would see an image of Aese living vessels!"

  Supreme Commander Laait stood and beckoned to the villip mis-•ss. Shortly a ghostly image appeared, showing a vessel forged of nooth rocks, dimpled with plasma launchers and dovin basal ^Placements.

  Canting his huge head, Shimrra regarded the glimmering image ln silence.

  352

  "The domain commander reported to Warmaster Nas Chok the living vessels have sown confusion among our ranks of coral t pers. Worse, the yammosk itself is perplexed. It is having troubl ferentiating our vessels from the enemy vessels."

  Shimrra swung to Laait. "Why hasn't the warmaster ordered domain commander to bring his capital vessels to bear on Zon Sekot?"

  "The warmaster wishes to do just that, God-Chosen. He mer I awaits your sanction for such an action." Shimrra said nothing.

  "Great One?" Laait said carefully, after a long moment had passed.

  "What do the seers say of all this?" Onimi interjected into the ensuing silence, as if deflecting attention from Shimrra.

  "The auguries have left us troubled, Great Lord," their haggish spokeswoman said. "The prospect of combating living vessels runs counter to the most sacred of our beliefs. Even as a test of our worthiness, the gods themselves would never have engineered such a sacrilege. We implore you, Lord, to explain how infidels have been allowed access to our biotechnology, and been granted sanction to create vessels that mimic ours."