Star Wars_ Darksaber - Kevin J. Anderson [151]
She had to get on board somehow and work from within.
The bomber’s engines didn’t respond at maximum capacity, but Callista headed toward the Knight Hammer with all the speed she could manage. Her mind spun as she tried to concoct a sufficiently audacious bluff that would allow her to land inside the bays: doubly difficult because she was a woman and could not immediately pass for a TIE bomber pilot; she would have to speak gruffly and muffle her words over the comm system.
Other TIE fighters spun about through space. Admiral Daala’s superiority over Yavin 4 seemed complete, and she could safely sit back and launch deadly volleys against the entire moon without risking herself.
Callista was surprised to hear a female voice over the comm channel, a battle director requesting her identification and status. A woman! Callista had never heard of the Empire placing female officers and bridge crew aboard their ships; Admiral Daala herself must have changed things. Callista swallowed and leaned forward to respond. She intentionally tuned the comm system slightly off-frequency.
“This is TIE bomber number—” she adjusted the knob to give a burst of static to obliterate her number, then switched back to a clear signal again, “—sustained heavy damage. All of our Star Destroyers are gone. The Jedi Knights did something, and the entire fleet … wiped out. No sign of them.”
“TIE bomber,” the female battle director transmitted back, “please repeat, with augmented details. Give a full summary of the battle below.”
“Most ground forces are destroyed,” Callista said. “The Jedi Knights have put up an incredible resistance, far more than we expected. Our losses are heavy. I’ve managed to escape, but my engines are damaged. I need a place to land right now.” Callista twisted the knob, adding a few extra bursts of static for good measure.
“State the extent of your damage,” the battle director said.
“Engines failing,” Callista answered. “My solar panel has been damaged. I think I’m leaking coolant or radiation … can’t be sure. Suggest you find an isolated bay where I can land. Evacuate it and seal down just in case something goes wrong. I’ll check the leakage and report.”
“Acknowledged, TIE bomber,” the battle director said. “We are eager to debrief you about the battle for Yavin 4.”
Callista smiled but made her voice sound ragged. “Understood.” She drifted toward the Super Star Destroyer until finally the battle director gave her instructions on where to land.
The rear bomber bay was cavernous, though the entrance seemed no more than a tiny blemish on the hull of the Knight Hammer. Callista guided her stolen ship inside and was immensely pleased to see that she had reached a hangar that held an entire squadron of TIE bombers. Apparently Admiral Daala was not planning to use this particular squadron, content to blast with her turbolasers. All personnel were evacuated from the bay because of possible hazardous leakage from Callista’s bomber.
As she landed, she found herself inside a vast unoccupied chamber filled with row upon row of TIE bombers each fully loaded with a complement of concussion missiles.
Callista’s lips curved in a hard smile. She couldn’t have hoped for better than this.
CHAPTER 55
The Falcon’s engines roared as Chewbacca sat in the copilot’s seat, grabbing the controls for liftoff. Leia strapped in, while Han Solo stood on the boarding ramp gesturing toward Kyp Durron. “If you’re coming with us, Kyp—get moving! In the Falcon at least we can provide air cover.”
Han’s heart wrenched as he watched the young Jedi who had already been through so much, who had been helpless while his companion Dorsk 81 perished from his overloaded contact with the Force. With brittle movements and a hard expression, Kyp took one last glance around the jungle and the temples,