The Emperor's Plague

17

From space, Raaba watched the weapons depot like a ravenous hawkbat waiting to pounce on a juicy rodent. The chocolate-furred Wookiee was well aware of the honor she held by being in charge of the Diversity Alliance fleet. Nolaa Tarkona trusted her, and Raaba would not let her leader down. Keeping the fleet in attack-ready formation, Raaba took them around the asteroid again and again, altering their course each time so that they got a view of the plague storehouse from every angle. The human ships were still down there, but one was no longer docked at the asteroid. She looked at the ship glinting in the reflected light of the distant sun. The sight sent a meteor storm of conflicting emotions through her. She had first seen that Hapan passenger cruiser on Kuar, where she had found Lowbacca and explained to him why she had faked her own death. Then, more recently, the Rock Dragon had appeared on Ryloth. Lowie and Sirra had stolen the ship, rescued their human friends, and left Raaba behind.

Deep inside, Raaba grudgingly admitted to herself that she was glad the humans had not actually died in the ryll spice mines. Still, it had been hard for her to accept that her lifelong friends Lowie and Sirra could so easily abandon her in order to save other friends, especially humans. Yet a part of her could not help but understand. After all, she would have done the same for either Lowie or Sirra. And, taking the responsibilities of command seriously, she knew she would willingly risk her life for any of the Twi’leks, Talz, Devaronians, Bith, or other Diversity Alliance members who worked around her with such dedication. Raaba knew her duty to the Diversity Alliance. The Rock Dragon could not be allowed to interfere with their plans.

She had informed Nolaa Tarkona of the intruders, and the Twi’lek leader had promised to deal with them appropriately. Raaba swallowed hard. Lowie himself might be on the Rock Dragon, and even if he wasn’t, his human friends were surely aboard. But her loyalty was clear—at least she thought it was. She couldn’t let her emotions or sentimentality get in the way. She had thought about this for part of an hour, ever since she had spotted the ships, and she had to come to a decision. Sitting down in her command chair, she ordered the front viewscreen’s magnification to be increased. She swung a console into position in front of her, then ordered half the weapons systems to be switched to her control.

The Ugnaught weapons officer complied, and Raaba took careful aim on the Rock Dragon. She could not betray Nolaa Tarkona, but for the sake of their friendship, she would do this one thing for Lowie—even if she never had the chance to tell him about it. Raaba’s fingers depressed a firing stud. Her shot narrowly missed the Hapan cruiser. She knew she had to be cautious: she only wanted to disable the ship, not destroy it. She took another shot and scored a good hit, though the Rock Dragon’s defensive shields held admirably.

Suddenly a third shot exploded against the hull of the Rock Dragon—but Raaba had not fired again. The Ugnaught weapons officer turned to grin at her, obviously waiting for Raaba to commend him on his excellent shooting. She commanded the crew to wait, but another blast lanced out, this time directed by the security console on the other side of the bridge. Seeing her actions, everyone had decided to take a potshot.

No! Raaba wanted to cry. Do not destroy the ship! But she knew she had no reason to give the command. Nolaa Tarkona’s orders had been specific. Shoot to kill. Take no prisoners.

“Maybe this wasn’t such a great idea after all,” Jaina muttered, throwing the Rock Dragon into a spin to avoid a new volley of fire from the Diversity Alliance armada. “How many?” she gasped.

Jacen’s voice was tense. “I’d say thirty—maybe forty ships.”

“Standard Old Imperial attack formation,” Tenel Ka added in clipped tones. “Use the asteroid as a shield.”

“Full sublight,” Jaina snapped, pulling the ship into a tight curve around the asteroid. “I guess we won’t be getting back down there as soon as we planned.”

Jacen leaned forward to help Tenel Ka yank the power levers into position, and all three passengers were thrown backward in their seats. The ship shot out of range as laser fire speared through space behind them. Within seconds Jaina had managed to put the bulk of the depot asteroid between the Rock Dragon and the Diversity Alliance fleet.

“Not much of a shield for us,” Jacen pointed out. “Those ships will not fire on the asteroid as long as Nolaa Tarkona is down there,” Tenel Ka said.

The flagship of the Diversity Alliance armada appeared around the edge of the asteroid, and Jaina dodged back into the asteroid’s shadow for cover again.

“I don’t know how much longer we can keep this up,” she said. A moment later her heart skipped a beat as Diversity Alliance ships appeared around the edges of the asteroid from three directions simultaneously. The split armada triangulated and converged on the Rock Dragon. The young Jedi Knights’ ship shuddered as turbolaser fire struck the hull, further weakening their shields. Jaina zigged and zagged. Bright fire lanced under, above, and to either side of the ship. Then—suddenly—their path was cleared. More ships streaked overhead, emerging like missiles out of hyperspace.

New Republic ships—at last! A wild cry of exhilaration sounded over the comm speakers, followed by a Wookiee roar of challenge. Jacen and Jaina gaped briefly at each other in astonishment.

“Dad?” Jaina said.

“Chewie?” Jacen asked.

“Half of the New Republic fleet,” Tenel Ka said. The warrior girl was not exaggerating. An entire cavalry of friendly vessels had dropped out of hyperspace to engage the Diversity Alliance attackers. A few of Nolaa Tarkona’s ships, apparently not yet ready to give up their quarry, began firing again at the Rock Dragon. A moment later one of those ships exploded into a fireball in space behind them.

Han Solo’s voice came over the comm speakers again. “I suggest you kids get to safety while we handle the heavy artillery out here.”

“But Dad—Lowie and Zekk and Raynar are still on the asteroid!” Jaina objected as turbolaser fire exploded uncomfortably close to their port shields.

“We’re just heading back there.” Chewbacca roared so loudly over the speakers that sparks flew. Han Solo spoke grimly, communicating both his concern for his children and his high estimation of their competence.

“Just stay clear of the crossfire,” Han said. “Wait for an opening, but until then, stick close to the Falcon.”

Tenel Ka pointed out, “Until the Diversity Alliance armada is under control, our safest alternative is to stay with the New Republic fleet.”

Jaina swerved to avoid another turbolaser blast. Then, with a determined whoop, she pulled the Rock Dragon alongside her father’s ship.