Before the Storm - Michael P. Kube-McDowell [33]
“I’m afraid there’s been some misunderstanding, Lieutenant. I’m not looking for a ride in. I’m looking for parking space on your flight deck.”
There was a static-filled pause, which ended when Harona cleared his throat. “General Calrissian, I’m afraid you’re right, there has been some confusion. Our flight decks are filled with mission gear and our own baby birds. There’s no room for Lady Luck inboard.”
“Then make room, Lieutenant. Unless you were planning for our best speed to be your convoy speed.” Lando thumbed the mute switch and added to Lobot, “Now we’ll find out if they know how fast my little ship really is.”
The second pause was longer. “Sir, Colonel Pakkpekatt suggests that you come aboard Glorious and let a relief crew ferry your yacht back to Coruscant.”
“Aha,” said Lando. “That tells me that they’ve got it in their minds that I’m an observer.” He released the mute switch. “Lieutenant Harona, we have our own mission gear aboard. Do I understand you to say Colonel Pakkpekatt is willing to hold here for another day or two while you set up secure holdings for file and equipment transfer? If so, put your quartermaster on, and we’ll start telling him what we’ll need—”
“Uh, no, sir, that would not be the colonel’s first choice.”
Lando winked at Lobot. Now I’ve got ’em, he thought. “Lieutenant, maybe I should just talk to Colonel Pakkpekatt directly.”
They could almost hear the OD squirming. “Sir, the colonel is very busy at the moment with predeparture matters—”
“I’m sure he is. Tell you what, Lieutenant. I can solve your little problem for you without disturbing the colonel. I see that your Number Five external dock is open. You pull that cap and we’ll hook on there.”
“General Calrissian, I’m very sorry, but I can’t authorize that—”
“Then why are you wasting my time, Lieutenant?” Lando said sharply. “Go get your senior officer and put him on the line. I want to talk to someone who can make a decision. And when we’re finished with our business—which should take about two minutes—I’m going to ask him to conduct a review of his bridge procedures and staff. I want him to find out why a flag officer and the Fleet Operations delegation to this mission were kept waiting while the officer of the day thumbed through the manual for a regulation to follow.”
The subsequent silence was the longest yet. “Lady Luck, Number Five External Hard Dock will be ready momentarily. Prepare for autodocking.”
“Thank you, Lieutenant,” said Lando. “Lady Luck out.”
“Well done, sir,” Threepio gushed. “That seems like an excellent compromise.”
“Compromise, nothing. I got what I really wanted,” Lando said, starting the autodocking sequence and climbing out of the pilot’s seat. “I wasn’t about to give up my ship, and I didn’t want it locked up inside where I’d need their permission to use it.”
“Then you achieved all your objectives,” Lobot said.
“Oh, no. We’re just beginning. Now we have to reeducate them about our role on this mission,” Lando said. “Get ready to disembark. I’m going to need all of you on this.”
“Colonel Pakkpekatt, sir, General Calrissian to see you.” The ensign’s voice was a bit shrill with nervousness. Lando guessed that he had never been on the combat bridge before, or had reason to speak to the mission commander—if he had seen him at all.
The ensign had been the first member of the crew Lando saw after ducking through the inner airlock of Number 5 Dock, and he had commandeered the young technician to escort them to Colonel Pakkpekatt. Lando was familiar with the layout of the Belarus-class star cruiser, and could have hazarded a guess as to where Pakkpekatt could be found. But being escorted, with his entourage following at his heels, allowed him to make an entrance.
Several heads swiveled at the ensign’s announcement, but most turned immediately back to their duties after taking in the new arrivals with a glance.
The exception was a two-meter-tall Hortek, whose bony armor plates were