Star Wars_ I, Jedi - Michael A. Stackpole [154]
Most of my pilots seemed to get the message and only a couple of times did we have to run some of the other Invids away from our zones of control. Once I caught Remart poaching on a lonely stretch of roadway, just blasting landspeeders for the simple pleasure he found in murder. I put an ion bolt into his clutch and commed to Captain Gurtt to recall him, which she did. I also attached his portion of the loot from the raid and had it sent to the families of the people he’d killed as recompense.
And, I vowed, I’d bring him to justice for their murders when all was said and done.
Fifteen minutes prior to reversion to realspace, we got the orders to get into our clutches. I mounted up, powered up and collected reports from my pilots. I relayed them to Captain Gurtt who was acting as the commander of Survivor Group. Invidious Group consisted of their Blade, Saber and Pike Squadrons, with Rock and Pike Squadrons being paired up for missions.
I felt a little jolt run through my ship as we reverted seven seconds early. Before I could figure out what had happened, Launch Control gave us immediate clearance to launch, which we did. I rolled out to port and headed toward my rendezvous position. My mouth went dry and I knew it was from more than sympathy for the grey, thick-aired world below me.
We’d come out of hyperspace early because an Interdictor Cruiser hung in space over Xa Fel. In formation with it were a Mon Calamari Star Cruiser and a Victory-class Mark II Star Destroyer. A host of smaller ships surrounded the three capital ships, including a number of assault shuttles that I assumed were conveying troops to the planet below. The presence of the Interdictor meant the Invidious couldn’t flee, and already the New Republic ships had begun to orient themselves for battle.
Worse yet, to my mind, were the swarms of fighters beginning runs in at us. Gigs of data poured over my screens. There had to be at least two squadrons of Y-wings and A-wings out there. I spotted other ships that had to be B-wings. They, along with the A-wings, moved toward our escorts like the Backstab. And the only reason they would leave the clutches to the Y-wings was if the Y-wings had help.
Then I saw them and my heart sank. I keyed the comm unit. “We have serious trouble here, Invidious. You have fighters coming up from Xa Fel.”
“It will be impossible for them to get through our fighter screen, Rock Lead.”
“Don’t say impossible.” I punched up a datafeed and sent it along to the Invidious. “That’s Rogue Squadron, and impossible is their stock in trade.”
THIRTY-SEVEN
I punched up the Survivors’ tactical frequency. “This is Rock Lead. Stay clear of the X-wings. Go after the Y-wings and use your ion cannons. Leave them dead in space, but the pilots able to squawk.”
Captain Gurtt came back quickly. “Why not kill them?”
“We’re evenly matched here, and the only way we win is by getting away. We leave pilots drifting, the Reps will pick them up. Invid can back out of the grav well and be ready to run. The Reps’ll see it as a win and we’ll get out of here.”
“Vape ’em all!” Sasyru’s voice rang with bravado. “I’m not afraid of any Rep pilots.”
“Fine, you take the Rogues. Good luck.” I glanced down at my monitor. “We’re a minute to contact, Captain. Your call.”
Gurtt waited for a moment, then issued her orders. “Target Y-wings, use ion cannons only. Run on some of the assault shuttles, too. Let Tavira’s folks pick up the X-wings.”
I dialed the comm unit down to Rock Squadron’s tactical frequency. “Shock the wishbones, stay clear of the pointers, leave the slims and crosses alone. Call for help and we’ll get through this.”
There were a thousand other things I wanted to say, but I had thirty seconds to contact and I needed to try something first. Since leaving the Jedi academy I’d not opened myself to the Force in any serious way. I knew,