Star Wars_ The Black Fleet Crisis 03_ Tyrant's Test - Michael P. Kube-McDowell [152]
The work was not yet finished when the galaxy reappeared around him and Maltha Obex appeared before him. He did not know at that moment quite who he was becoming, or what would presage the transformation. He only knew that he welcomed that moment of reconnection, and the possibilities that it offered.
For days, Lady Luck had been fleeing before the Teljkon vagabond, staying over the horizon from the powerful and unpredictable Qella artifact. Two tasks had occupied them during that time—keeping tabs on the vagabond by means of the equipment at the abandoned surface camps, and scanning for what they hoped would be a task-force-sized entry into the Maltha Obex system.
But the ship that did finally appear on the scanners was so small that Joto Eckels felt a rush of disappointment rather than relief. “Perhaps it’s some sort of probe,” he suggested at Pakkpekatt’s shoulder. “Don’t you usually send a probe in ahead of the main body?”
“It’s a civilian skiff,” said Taisden. “No military comm.”
“Then we have to warn it away at once,” Eckels said. “Colonel, once the vagabond spots it, half an orbit from now—”
A display screen above their heads flashed on as he spoke. “This is Mud Sloth, hailing the Lady Luck. Lando, report your status, please.”
Eckels began to look more hopeful as he recognized Luke’s face. “Lando’s not here, Luke—”
But Pakkpekatt rose from his seat, blocking Eckels from the holocomm as he leaned forward to reply. “Mud Sloth, you are entering an NRI security zone, and you are at risk. Turn your ship about at once and leave this system.”
“You’d be Colonel Pakkpekatt, I take it,” said Luke. “And was that Dr. Eckels? Is Lando still aboard the vagabond, then? You haven’t been able to get to him? I need an update covering the last five days.”
“You are not authorized for that information,” said Pakkpekatt. “You are not cleared for this security zone.”
“Colonel, I’m all the assistance you’re likely to get for a while, given the demands on the Fleet at the moment. And I know Dr. Eckels doesn’t want to see this expedition end with a shoot-out, anyway—”
“Absolutely correct,” Eckels said, pushing his way into the holocomm’s field of view.
“—so let’s see if we can’t work together and make something better happen.”
“Do you have any ideas about what that might be, Luke?” said Eckels. “The artifact has been notably uncooperative so far—even more so than the colonel.”
“I know. I’ve reviewed your reports—yours and his both,” Luke said.
At that news, Pakkpekatt threw his hands in the air in disgust and turned away from the flight console. “I will demand an investigation of this entire operation,” he muttered. “The breaches of security—the complete disregard for the lines of authority—”
“I think I can get the team off the vagabond,” Luke went on. “But I’m hoping for more than that. Why don’t you tell me what you think happened here, Doctor?”
“May I ask first if you’re planning to board the vagabond yourself?”
“Yes, I am, Dr. Eckels.”
“Then would it be possible for you to collect me before you do? I will likely have better answers for you once I’ve seen it for myself.”
“I was hoping you’d offer, Doctor,” Luke said. “If you and the colonel would locate some power packs for the droids and put together a mercy basket for the men, I’ll rendezvous with you on your next orbit.”
“Very good,” said Eckels. “We’ll be ready.”
As the vagabond grew outside Mud Sloth’s cockpit viewpanes, Eckels looked nervously from it to Luke’s face.
“How will you know if it’s working?”
“We’ll know if it isn’t,” Luke said, closing his eyes.
“Shouldn’t we at least alert General Calrissian that we’re coming in?”
“No signals,” Luke said. “No sounds. No thrusters. Nothing that will disturb the flow. Nothing that will announce our presence.”
Eckels looked back toward the alien vessel. “But