Star Wars_ Darksaber - Kevin J. Anderson [96]
For Madine the time for second thoughts was long past. The decision had been made. He had not had any doubts, regardless of the consequences. Threats continued to harry the New Republic, and Madine could not rest until his chosen government was safe.
He feared that meant he would never rest.
The motion of the green blip on the diagram of Nar Shaddaa startled him out of his reverie. Trandia sat up straighter. “Sir, the target ship is departing. Tracking now.”
“So, he’s on his way,” Madine said, and laced his fingers together in anticipation. He took a deep breath before snapping into motion. “All right, we’re ready to pursue. Trandia, I’d like you on my team—and Korenn,” Madine said, thinking of the enthusiasm and unquestionable talent of the sandy-haired boy who looked far younger than his experience and skill suggested. “Let’s get prepped. Ackbar has given us three scout A-wings. We’ll streak in and see what Durga is up to.
“But,” Madine said, extending a finger, “we’ll also implant emergency transmitters, because we may be pressed for time. Wherever this hidden weapon is, if we see a chance to sabotage it, we must take it. We can’t afford to let the Hutts complete their own Death Star.”
Madine stood in the launching bay, admiring the three trim A-wing fighters. Trandia came up to him, moving with the lithe grace that had convinced him she would be good in covert operations. She wore a flightsuit now, her braid tucked beneath the collar. She carried a helmet in the crook of her arm. “Ready to depart, sir,” she said, “as soon as you give the order.”
A moment later Korenn. the other young member of the team stepped up. His eyes sparkled with excitement, and his sandy hair was spiky and unruly. Korenn popped a helmet on his head.
“Do we have our destination yet?” Madine said.
Trandia flashed a faint smile. “The Hoth Asteroid Belt, sir. That’s where Durga’s gone to hide.”
Madine raised his eyebrows. “Interesting. Asteroids will call for some tricky flying.” He fixed his gaze on Korenn and Trandia. “How’s your piloting?”
“Excellent, sir,” they responded in unison.
“Good,” Madine said. “Let’s go then.”
HOTH
CHAPTER 33
The ice creatures lunged in a mass of white fur, spread claws, and flying blood.
“Watch your back, Callista!” Luke yelled, slashing as a white-furred monster bore down on her. His lightsaber opened a sizzling, blackened gash through its rib cage, and the wampa fell to the snow, gurgling hot bile.
Callista lunged, decapitating another creature as it leaped toward Luke, its fanged mouth open and ready to tear flesh. “I’ll watch my back if you watch yours,” she said, raising a challenging eyebrow.
Burrk, the former stormtrooper, fired until he emptied his second blaster pistol. His face held a haggard hopelessness, yet a foolish determination. Luke knew he would keep fighting until the wampas took him down.
“You—Jedi!” Burrk shouted, “we’ve got to get back to the base. Can you clear us a path with your lightsabers?”
Luke and Callista both nodded curtly. The heavy shield door under the icy overhang was their only sanctuary. Luke felt a sudden relief that they had left the shield door partially open so they could dash back inside.
One of the Cathars, Nodon, fired the last trickle of charge from his blaster rifle, just as a huge wampa rose before him, muscular arms dangling to its knees and curved claws extending a dozen centimeters beyond. Nodon yowled and spat a primal feline sound and thrust the blaster rifle toward it like a blunt spear, punching the attacking monster below the sternum. The creature roared in pain and lashed out to knock Nodon to the snow, his shoulder ripped in a sequence of parallel furrows, spraying red.
The Cathar’s brother hissed in fury and leaped to Nodon’s aid. Nonak sprang onto the back of the attacking wampa and slashed with his own claws, tearing into the wampa’s neck with sharp fangs. The monster forgot about the wounded Cathar and bellowed, reaching behind him to pluck away the vicious feline alien. Nodon, wounded, backed away, trying to scramble to his