Star Wars_ Legacy of the Force 07_ Fury - Aaron Allston [58]
“I’m sorry. Lots more work. But I wanted to stop in to look at you.”
“I dreamed there was a lady here.”
“Well, have another good dream. I’ll be back soon.” He smiled, then stepped out again and let the door shut behind him.
No, Allana had not been Leia’s objective. So what is? Sabotage of the long-range turbolasers? Surely she knows that Luke took care of them. They won’t be repaired for weeks or months. “Engineering, commence a tiered diagnostics scan of all the ship’s combat and sensor systems.”
“Yes, sir.”
The security officer’s voice crackled across his comlink almost immediately. “Sir, Jedi Solo reached the bay doors. We had them locked down, but they opened right up for her and she walked in. Holocam image inside doesn’t show her. The holocams must have been subverted.”
Caedus hissed in frustration. “Vent the outer doors immediately.”
“We did, sir. Issued the command, I mean. The system acknowledged, but exterior holocams show the doors still shut.”
“Bring up all weapons, prepare to blast that yacht to plasma the instant it launches.”
Remembering the stratagem he’d used on Hapes, Caedus felt a new fear. Perhaps Leia and accomplices had brought a bomb aboard. He never would have suspected it of her, but the idea had a beautiful simplicity to it. A sufficiently large explosion in his private hangar would cripple or destroy the Anakin Solo.
Worse, it would harm or kill Allana.
He spun, reentered the room he had just left, and smiled down at his daughter. “I was wrong. Work is done for a little while. Let’s go for a fun ride.”
CENTERPOINT STATION, FIRE-CONTROL CHAMBER
The chief technician’s voice was quiet and somber. “Anakin Solo imprinting lockout bypasses are holding. Energy charge is holding. Targeting system is holding. We read ready.”
Admiral Delpin nodded. “Acknowledge ready.” She turned Koyan’s way. “We await your authorization to launch.”
Koyan gulped. “Launch authorized. Admiral Delpin, I also authorize you to fire the weapon. Don’t wait for me to authorize. Fire when you think the moment is perfect.”
“Acknowledged.” Delpin raised her comlink. “Force Yimi, move in. Force Zexx, all squadrons, make your jump and commence your attack.” She paused long enough to hear two confirmations, then turned back toward Koyan. “We’re committed.”
chapter seventeen
ABOARD THE ANAKIN SOLO
The little personnel speeder, Caedus at the controls, hurtled down the main passageway of the Anakin Solo, causing crew members, uniformed pilots, and civilian observers to leap cursing out of its way. In the passenger’s seat, strapped down tight, Allana laughed, a child’s throaty chuckle Caedus could hear even over the roar of the repulsorlifts.
Ordinarily he would have been charmed. Now he was simply alarmed. He would remain so until he was off the Anakin Solo and away from whatever it was Leia had brought aboard.
Nor could he leave in the vehicles he knew and trusted most, his shuttle and Tahiri’s StealthX. They were in the same hangar as Leia’s yacht. So he raced toward the main starfighter bay. He’d take out something fast and well defended, and stay far enough away from the Anakin Solo that Allana would remain safe if a bomb detonated aboard.
He hadn’t forgotten his negotiations with Captain Hoclaw, but they were no longer important.
He sideslipped into a pedestrian down ramp, causing a half squad of infantry to dive over a railing to avoid him. Allana laughed again.
He glanced at her and forced a smile. “Having fun?”
“Lots of fun. Can I drive?”
“Next time, sweetie.”
Finally, there they were—double doors leading into the main starfighter bay. They slid aside at his approach. He roared in, clearing mechanics standing on either side of the door by a hand span. He glanced at the arrayed ranks of starfighters—old and new, trusted and experimental—and veered toward the line of various TIE series.
One in particular—an experimental design he’d flown once—drew his eye. The prototype TIE Reconnaissance Fighter, nicknamed the Blur by GA pilots, resembled the old TIE bomber