Star Wars_ Darksaber - Kevin J. Anderson [158]
The Knight Hammer and the Victory-class Star Destroyers closed in on Ackbar’s flagship. The Calamarian Star Cruiser’s defenses were failing, and its destruction was imminent.
Callista prayed that she had set the timers to go off soon enough.
The Knight Hammer veered away from the jungle moon and lumbered out into space, pursuing Ackbar’s retreating ship toward the gas giant Yavin, but the huge planet offered no safety whatsoever.
Callista knew she had no hope for her own escape. She accepted that. If her plan succeeded, the Knight Hammer would be destroyed—and if her attempt failed, she would stay and fight to the death, making another attempt and another, doing everything she could to stop the brutal Imperials.
In either case, she vowed to make her way to the bridge deck of the Super Star Destroyer. At the last, she wanted to face Admiral Daala, look the destructive renegade in her emerald eyes, and strike the admiral down with her own two hands.
Callista gripped her lightsaber as the transport tube shot her kilometer after kilometer along the length of the black warship. She’d just begun rising toward the bridge tower when all the charges blew—
Missile after missile shot into the armored retaining wall behind the Knight Hammer’s powerful bank of engines. As the first wave of explosions breached the containment wall, other timers went off and more missiles flew, erupting through the blast craters or streaking sideways to detonate the fuel tanks of other TIE bombers … which in turn blew up in an increasing concussion front that doubled and redoubled its destructive power.
Eight kilometers long and heavily armored, the Knight Hammer was far too immense to be destroyed by even such a spectacular explosion—but Callista’s intent had been to rip out the core of the engines, to hobble the Super Star Destroyer and leave it hanging dead in space.
Lights went black around Callista. The transport tube lurched to a halt, and alarms began shrieking at bone-jarring volume. Callista laughed with the ecstasy of adrenaline, then popped the evacuation hatch. Breathing hard, she hauled herself out into the dark access tunnel.
Callista flicked on her lightsaber, and by the topaz glow of its blade she found an emergency exit port that took her out into the chaotic corridors of the giant ship. In a defensive crouch, Callista flung sweat from her close-cropped blond hair, and with the greatest possible speed she made her way to the bridge decks.
She had an appointment with Daala.
The Knight Hammer began to drift, dead in space.
CHAPTER 58
Admiral Daala watched the last of the battle unfold toward its inevitable conclusion, and she stood back and smiled with thin, pale lips.
Seeing themselves hopelessly outgunned, the meager Rebel fleet attempted to escape—but the Knight Hammer and the Victory-class Star Destroyers flew after it toward the huge orange ball of Yavin, pummeling the Calamarian Star Cruiser’s shields. According to her readings, the Rebel defenses had practically been exhausted. It would be only moments until the battlecruiser was crushed between Imperial jaws of steel.
A dark-haired young lieutenant rushed up to her. His face had been scrubbed so clean that a flush of pink still stood out, enhanced by his excitement. His words came in a breathless rush. “Admiral, good news from the sensor station!”
She allowed a smile, reveling in the continued satisfaction. “I’m always willing to accept good news. What is it, Lieutenant?”
The lieutenant beamed. “We’ve located Vice Admiral Pellaeon’s fleet.”
She whirled, suddenly focusing her attention. “Where?”
“They’re on the edge of the Yavin system, Admiral, making their way here as fast as they can. We’ve established communication.”
“What happened to them?” she said. “Did they suffer engine problems? All at once?”
The lieutenant shook his head. “No, Admiral—it is very strange.” He looked away as if embarrassed. “The Jedi Knights physically hurled them out of