Star Wars_ The Dark Lord Trilogy - James Luceno [297]
Climber considered it. “Were you apprised of what the Jedi have done to prompt an order of execution?”
Salvo’s upper lip curled. “That doesn’t concern me, Climber, and it shouldn’t concern you.”
“You’re right, Commander. I must have been misprogrammed. All this time I’ve accepted that the Grand Army and the Jedi Knights served the Republic. No one said anything to me about serving Palpatine first and foremost.”
“Palpatine is the Republic, Climber.”
“Palpatine issued the orders personally?”
“His command was to execute an order that has been in place since before the start of the war.”
Climber took a moment to consider it. “Here’s my take on it, Commander. It all comes down to serving the ones who are fighting alongside you, watching your back, putting a weapon in your hand when you need it most.”
Salvo sharpened his tone. “We’re not going to argue this now. But I promise you this much: if we don’t catch them, you’ll pay for your treason—you and your entire team.”
Climber nodded. “We knew that going in.”
Salvo took a breath and gave his head a rueful shake. “You shouldn’t be thinking for yourself, brother. It’s more dangerous than you know.”
He swung to the members of his platoon and the recent arrivals.
“Platoon leaders, switch your comlinks to encrypted command frequency zero-zero-four. Have your troopers fan out. Grid search. Every building, every nook and cranny. You know what you’re up against, so keep your wits about you.”
“Ever see a Jedi run, Commander?” a platoon leader asked. “My guess is they’re already ten klicks from here.”
Salvo turned to his comlink specialist. “Contact the Gallant. Inform command that we have a situation, and that we’re going to need whatever seeker droids and BARC detachments can be spared.”
“Commander,” the same platoon leader said, “unless the Seps are in on this hunt, we’re going to have our hands full. Are we here to take Murkhana or the Jedi?”
Climber smirked. “Don’t make matters worse by trying to confuse him, Lieutenant.”
Gesturing with his forefinger, Salvo said: “Worse for you if they escape.”
Shryne knew Murkhana City by heart.
“This way … Down here … Up there,” he instructed as they made their escape, using the speed granted by the Force to put kilometers between themselves and their new enemy.
The city was wide open to bombardment now. The energy shields were down and the anti-laser aerosols had diffused. Two additional Star Destroyers hung over the bay, but Republic forces were continuing to show restraint. Most of the intense fighting was still occurring around the landing platform, although the hexagonal field itself was not being targeted, as it and the three bridges that remained were essential for moving troopers and matériel into the city. Shryne figured that once the landing platform was taken, the Separatists would probably blow the rest of the bridges, if only to slow the inevitable occupation, while residents continued to flee for their lives.
In the streets, firefights were undergoing a conspicuous change now that the clone troopers had been issued a new priority. Separatist mercenaries and battle droids were making the most of the confusion. Shryne, Chatak, and Starstone had witnessed several instances when platoons of clones disengaged from fighting, presumably to continue the hunt for the Jedi.
When Shryne felt that the three of them had a moment to spare he led them into a deserted building and pulled his comlink from his belt.
“The troopers have changed frequencies to prevent our eavesdropping on them,” he said.
“That doesn’t affect our knowing their methods for conducting a search,” Chatak said.
“We can avoid them for however long it takes to clear this up. If it comes down to worst cases, I have contacts in the city who might be able to help us escape.”
“Whose lives are we protecting here,” Starstone asked in an edgy voice, “ours or the troopers’? I mean, aren’t we the ones who had them grown?”
Shryne and Chatak traded secret glances.
“I’m not going to start killing troopers,” Shryne said