Star Wars_ X-Wing 08_ Isard's Revenge - Michael A. Stackpole [130]
“Weapons, target the Mon Cal cruiser. Same orders to Decisive and Emperor’s Wisdom.”
“As ordered, Prince-Admiral.”
A smile spread over Krennel’s face as his forward gunners lashed Home One with heavy turbolaser battery fire. Gold-tinged scarlet energy bolts battered the New Republic ship’s bow and port shields. The Mon Cal shield sphere slowly shrank as the incoming fire boiled off layers of energy. Finally the bow shield collapsed and the hull itself crisped to a blackness as paint ignited and armor ablated. Ion bolts skittered, arced, and danced over the rounded ship’s surface, then a dozen concussion missiles from Emperor’s Wisdom tracked a series of explosions over the hull. Fires raged in a couple of craters, prompting cheers from the bridge crew.
Krennel stared down at the crew pit from his catwalk. “Why isn’t Decisive firing?”
The communications officer looked up from his station. “Decisive reports that Emancipator reinforced their port shields and soaked off the damage that had to pass them to get to Home One. They request leave to engage Emancipator.”
“No! Tell Decisive to roll to port, then come up and over Emancipator.” Krennel thrust a finger at the viewpoint. “I want that cruiser dead!”
The Mon Calamari cruiser and Emancipator fired. The Mon Cal’s turbolaser batteries concentrated their fire on Reckoning’s forward shield. The invisible energy bowl protecting the ship’s bow suddenly filled with a translucent pink that quickly evaporated as blue ion cannon bolts lanced through it. Blue lightning crawled from corner to corner and glided along lines over the ship’s hull. Two heavy turbolaser batteries exploded and Krennel saw at least two gunners ejected into space as their stations ripped themselves apart.
Emancipator’s weapons on both sides cut loose. The port gunners delivered a full broadside into Decisive’s port shield, shredding it. Turbolaser fire slashed black furrows along the Imperial Star Destroyer’s hull, and drilled deep at several points. Ion cannon bolts sent jagged lightning whips cavorting over its hull, with a couple scurrying up the command tower as fast as Jawas after droids. The New Republic ship’s starboard batteries targeted Reckoning and peeled away its starboard shield. Krennel felt the deck shift beneath his feet as a power surge momentarily knocked the inertial compensators offline. Turbolasers vaporized portions of the hull. Warning sirens blared and fires burned as atmosphere vented.
Krennel clutched at the catwalk railing. “Sensors, are they still withdrawing?”
“Yes, Prince-Admiral. They’re pulling out on an exit vector that will allow them to go to hyperspace in thirty seconds.”
“Security, damage report.”
“Minimal, Prince-Admiral.”
Krennel nodded solemnly. “Helm, come about to a heading of ninety degrees, but keep her level. We’ll give them our port shield to shoot at and a full broadside on the Mon Cal. Weapons, port on the Mon Cal, starboard targets of opportunity.”
“As ordered, Prince-Admiral.”
“Prince-Admiral!” The man at the sensor station waved a hand at him. “I have the southern Daplona shield down. Two of the New Republic ships are heading to ground.”
“Weapons, send a squadron of TIEs down to deal with that problem.”
“Done, Prince-Admiral.”
“Two are running for the ground, and the rest for space. We can’t have that.” Krennel flashed teeth in a cruel smile. “Communications, tell Binder to power up the gravity wells. Our dying enemies can’t be allowed to leave. After all, the fun has just started, hasn’t it?”
Recognition bloomed in the old man’s eyes, bringing a smile to Corran’s face. “So you did escape Lusankya after all. Isard tossed us a skull and said you didn’t make it.”
Corran nodded. “I did, and even had a hand in killing her. At least, I thought we killed her.”
Dodonna stood. “She’s still been in charge of us.”
“That’s a clone. The real thing is still