Star Wars_ The New Jedi Order_ Dark Tide 02_ Ruin - Michael A. Stackpole [76]
A sharp keening pealed through her comm unit, then resolved itself into a human voice. “Get clear, Rogues. They are ours now. Spike Lead out.”
What? Who?! Jaina’s jaw dropped open as the clawlike fighters blasted past her, three sets of four, all grouped in tight formations. They twisted and turned as if the pilots shared a brain, moving with precision that took her breath away. Their weapons blazed out with green splinter shots, then loosed paired bolts that hit the skips with incredible accuracy. Cockpits became volcanoes. Dovin basals boiled and exploded. Skips crumbled as the thirty-six clawcraft that had just appeared in the system raked their way through the dogfight.
The two Star Destroyers that had at the same time appeared shifted the balance of the capital ship battle. One interposed itself between the enemy and the stricken Taanab Sunrise. Its shields had collapsed and a dozen fires burned in holes in the hull. The new Victory-class Star Destroyer, Red Harvest, soaked off incoming fire from the Yuuzhan Vong, while using its weapons to crush one of the enemy corvettes.
The other one, the Chimaera, joined the Ralroost in targeting the Yuuzhan Vong cruiser. The enemy vessel spawned a plague of gravitic anomalies. They managed to absorb the assaults directed at it, but killed all maneuvering capability from the ship. It can hold us off like this until the dovin basals tire, and we have no idea how long that will be.
“Rogue Leader to all Rogues, recall is ordered. Back to the ’Roost. We have achieved our objective and we’re heading home.”
Jaina blinked, then stretched out with the Force. She felt her brother’s presence, safe and whole, on the Ralroost. Now, if we can just get back.
She glanced at her sensor screens and frowned. The skip traces were few and far between, and all heading toward the Yuuzhan Vong cruiser. The clawcraft wove intricate patterns through what had been the battleground, with quartets of them escorting X-wings back to the Bothan ship. One small formation curled down and came around, taking up a position around Jaina and Anni.
“Don’t worry, Rogues, we have you now. We’ll get you home safely.”
The patronizing tone in Spike Leader’s voice made Jaina grit her teeth. “Who are you?”
“We’re simply the best combat pilots in the galaxy.” A momentary spark of static burst through the comm channel. “We are a Chiss House phalanx, on loan to the New Republic by my father, General Baron Soontir Fel.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
What Shedao Shai saw on the surface of Garqi did not please him. Coming down to the planet in a shuttle, he had seen a blackened scar below, but standing amid it magnified its obscenity. Charcoal crunched beneath his feet. The dry scent of burned wood filled his nostrils, and occasionally a hint of charred flesh made it through, as well.
Pleased that the mask he wore hid his shock and disgust, Shedao Shai looked down at the subordinate who lay prostrate before him. He carefully placed his foot on his inferior’s neck. “You say, Runck Das, that Krag Val fought valiantly here before dying. How is it that you did not die with him?”
Runck spit cinders from his mouth. “Commander, Krag Val ordered this one to remain behind, preserving information for you, guarding against a different attack by the resistance. I wanted to be here to guard him, but I had been ordered to remain behind.”
Deign Lian snorted from Shedao Shai’s left. “Obey a foolish order and you merely reveal yourself to be a complete and total fool.”
The Yuuzhan Vong leader’s left hand snapped out. Stiffened fingers slapped against Lian’s throat, punching a coughed