Star Wars_ Young Jedi Knights 03_ The Lost Ones - Kevin J. Anderson [51]
Jaina looked out the observation viewports, spotting the New Republic fleet launching from orbit and streaking toward their invisible target.
Their weapons powered up as they homed in on the mysteriously empty zone.
Before they arrived, Jaina and the others had to expose the Shadow Academy.
Lowie groaned a question, which Em Teedee translated. "Master Lowbacca wishes to inquire if the focusing apparatus has condensed the beam of reflected sunlight to its full-power configuration."
"That's for sure," Peckhum said. "Once we get this thing turned, we'll really make them hot under the collar."
Hanging in orbit over Coruscant, the big mirrors finally swung into position, focusing their bright beam of condensed sunlight into the empty void. The mirror beam cut a swath through space like a searchlight.
The light should have kept flying across the solar system, but when it struck the empty coordinates, space itself seemed to shimmer like golden smoke. The high-intensity flood of sunlight continued to bombard the cloaked area, finally overwhelming the invisibility shields around the Shadow Academy.
"There!" Jaina cried triumphantly.
The Imperial station rippled into view and then snapped into perfect focus, a large circular ring bristling with spiked gun emplacements and observation towers.
Lowie and Chewbacca roared in unison, and Jaina shook her head. "They were hiding right on our doorstep all along. That's why they could use short-range fighters to attack the Adamant. That's how Tamith Kai and her companions could slip down to the city and steal Zekk away!"
"Zekk must be aboard the station then," Peckhum whispered. "That's where they've taken him."
"And the Lost Ones," Jaina added.
Chewbacca snarled, then pointed as the exposed Shadow Academy began to move. Thrusters along the equator of its donut shape burned blue-white on one side, nudging it away from the bright beam of concentrated sunlight.
"Turn the mirrors," Jaina said. "We can't let them get away before the ships arrive."
"Oh dear," Em Teedee said. "I do hope our fighters manage to apprehend that Shadow Academy. I'm still exceedingly vexed with them for reprogramming me when we were all taken prisoner there."
Peckhum punched new coordinates into the mirror directional systems, but the sudden acceleration and the change in direction proved too much for the already-stressed silvery sheeting. The long webs of cables that held the great mirror in position tore free, and a wide gash began to open up, spilling a seam of stars and black night through the glittering reflector.
"We can't hold it," Peckhum shouted. "It's too much!" He shook his head.
"We could never target a moving object anyway." Then he looked up and moaned. "My mirrors!"
The Shadow Academy continued to accelerate, and Jaina watched the approach of Admiral Ackbar's vengeful fleet, silently urging them to greater speed. But she could see they would not arrive in time.
"The Shadow Academy must already have been preparing to leave," she said.
"Of course. They've got Zekk and some other recruits. They've stolen a shipment of hyperdrive cores and turbolaser batteries. They were only increasing their danger by staying here."
Though its ringed shape made it appear unwieldy, the Shadow Academy picked up speed as it headed toward its appropriate hyperspace jump point.
The first of the New Republic ships soared ahead, firing laser bursts at the Shadow Academy. Several shots struck home, leaving dark blaster scoring on the outer hull; the intensity of the solar mirror must have burned out some shields.
Jaina reached out with her mind, searching for Zekk, still marveling at the thought that the handsome, dark-haired street boy might have the potential to be a Jedi Knight. Or a Dark Jedi. She muttered to herself, feeling guilty, "He was our friend, and we never even imagined he might become a Jedi, too. Now