• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

As it faded to pink, a cerulean blanket of ion cannon energy would drop over it. The blue fire fragmented and sizzled over the energy dome with hundreds of lightninglike tendrils. Some of them bled off the dome and buildings outside its sanctuary exploded and melted. The surrounding jungle began to burn, ringing the base with fire. Makes for a perfect target, though the fire will make flying tough down there.

“Whistler, get me a general track on air currents groundside. Also monitor the size of the shield. When it shrinks, it’s coming down.”

Wave after wave of energy poured down through the rising column of smoke. The energy slammed into the shields with a thunder crack that sent vibrations deep enough to shake the command bunker where Kirtan stood. The relentless pounding had made him flinch at first and fear for his life, but now the sounds merged into one unending rumble. The few working monitors in the command center showed satellite views of the attacking fleet and the fiery circle on the planet’s surface.

Derricote turned toward Kirtan. “Hard to believe anyone could survive down there, isn’t it?”

The Intelligence officer nodded. “It does tax credulity, General.”

“And the Rebels are so ready to be credulous.” The military man looked over at one of the technicians at the shield controls. “Status, Mr. Harm.”

“Still at one hundred percent, sir.”

“Good. Begin a step-back in random percentages of power—randomize from seven. When you hit seventy-five percent, cut to fifty. When their salvos slacken, go down to twenty, then five, then zero.”

Kirtan felt fear trickle through his guts. “You are confident they won’t level this place? They took Vladet down to the foundations.”

“Which is why we are below the foundations, Agent Loor.”

Kirtan cringed as a particularly powerful blast shook the ground. “I trust you know what you are doing.”

“As you have no choice, I appreciate your confidence.” Derricote rubbed his hands together. “The Rebels want this place to use for future operations, that’s the only reason they’re attacking. If they want it, they’re going to pay my price to get it.”

Whistler’s squawk made Corran focus on the tactical screen. The shields over the base had begun to contract. As they began to come down, the Emancipator slackened off with turbolaser fire and concentrated on using the ion cannons. While they did slightly less damage than the lasers, if the shields came down unexpectedly quickly, an ion salvo wouldn’t destroy what General Kre’fey intended to capture.

Corran brought his X-wing in beside Warden Squadron and killed his thrust. “Three Flight on station.”

“I copy, Nine. Stand by.” Tycho’s voice clipped off abruptly as the flight controller switched channels.

Corran flipped his comm unit over to the tactical frequency he shared with his flight. They still had not gotten a pilot to replace Lujayne so Three Flight remained one pilot light. That was just one element of the operation that Corran didn’t like. He knew pilots were not easy to come by, but he knew Tycho could have easily flown Lujayne’s X-wing, and he thought the man would be a lot more valuable in a fighter than inside the Eridain directing traffic.

“Ten, Twelve, we hold here.” Corran glanced at his tactical screen. “Their shields are failing fast. We’ll be going in next.”

Whistler’s triumphant bleat heralded the collapse of Blackmoon’s shields. Corran started to smile, but something nagged at the back of his brain. He couldn’t identify it, but it nibbled away at his smile and started bile burning in the back of his throat. He keyed his comm. “Control, Nine still shows the enemy to be blind.”

“Got it, Nine. Rogues, stand by.” An uncharacteristic hesitancy echoed through Tycho’s words. “Rogues, this is direct from General Kre’fey. You will escort the assault shuttles down to the planet.”

“Say again, Control?” The disbelief in Wedge’s voice resonated through Corran. “Defender Wing is ready for its sweep.”

“Rogue Leader,