Star Wars_ The Dark Lord Trilogy - James Luceno [317]
“Lord Vader,” Appo said while the crew was being whisked away, “security reports that two humans have been found in a secret compartment beneath the ship’s galley.”
Vader turned in the direction of the transport. “Interesting. Let’s see what security has uncovered.”
By the time Vader and Appo had moved around to the transport’s port side, a detail of troopers was emerging from the ship, with two humans in custody. The man was tall and longhaired, and very protective of the young woman by his side. The pair were dressed alike in robes and headcloths typical of the mercenary brigade that had fought for the Separatists on Murkhana.
Their eyes widened on seeing Vader.
“They are unarmed, Lord Vader,” one of the troopers announced.
“We stowed away without the captain’s knowledge,” the man said. “We’re only trying to get to Ord Mantell.”
“You’re not stowaways,” Vader said. “The captain was well paid to take you aboard his ship, and you have been promised payment, as well.”
The girl began to quake in fear. “We didn’t know we were doing anything illegal! We’re not smugglers or criminals. I’m telling you the truth. We did it only for the credits!”
Vader appraised her. “I will consider sparing your lives if you tell me who hired you to carry out this deception.”
The man firmed his lips, then swallowed hard and spoke. “Some of Cash Garrulan’s goons.”
Vader nodded. “Just as I suspected.” He swung to Appo. “Commander, have the Exactor’s scanners detected anything yet?”
“Nothing yet.”
“They will, soon enough.”
Vader turned to the head of the trooper detail. “Lock these two away with the crew.”
All color drained from the girl’s face. “But you said—”
“That I would consider sparing you,” Vader cut her off.
“Lord Vader, our sensors may have found something,” Appo said suddenly. “The craft is only a CloakShape that launched from the outskirts of Murkhana City. But it is pursuing a course that will take it close to the Exactor’s previous position, and it is attempting to evade our scans.”
“The Jedi are aboard that craft. Can we interdict from our present position, Commander?”
“No. The CloakShape is out of the range of our tractor beam.”
Vader growled in displeasure. “We will need to remedy that. Is my starfighter prepared?”
“It’s waiting in launching bay three.”
“Assign two pilots to serve as my wingmates. Tell them to rendezvous with me in the launching bay.” Vader shrugged his cloak behind his shoulders. “And, Commander, the vigo will be attempting to flee Murkhana. Don’t bother capturing him. Target his vessel, and make certain that everyone on board is killed.”
The CloakShape, a broad-winged craft with a transverse maneuvering fin, had been modified for spaceflight. The cockpit had been enlarged to accommodate pilot and copilot, and a rearfacing gunner’s chair had been installed in the tail section. Shryne was forward; Starstone, aft; and in the pilot’s seat was Brudi Gayn, a freelancer who made occasional runs for Cash Garrulan. A rangy, dark-haired human a few years older than Shryne, he spoke Basic with a strong Outer Rim accent.
Shryne had already decided that Gayn was the most casual pilot he had ever flown with. Any farther from the instrument panel and his chair would have been adjacent to Starstone’s. His hold on the yoke was negligent. Yet he handled the craft masterfully, and didn’t miss a trick.
“Well, they’ve got a good fix on us,” he told Shryne and Starstone through their helmet comlinks. “Definitely going to have to upgrade our countermeasures at some point.”
Hanging far to starboard, Vader’s massive warship was just visible through the CloakShape’s triangle of transparisteel viewport.
“I hate the look of these new mass-produced Imperator-class Destroyers,” Gayn continued. “None of the artistry that went into the old Acclamators and Venators—even the Victory Twos.” He shook his head