Star Wars_ Young Jedi Knights 05_ Darkest Knight - Kevin J. Anderson [30]
"It appeared that you needed some help, Jacen," she said.
"I did-thanks." He and Tenel Ka flew side by side as they followed close behind the streaking X-wings piloted by Lowie and Sirra.
Their target approached, a small thermal exhaust port just waiting for them to drop a proton torpedo inside so they could blow up the horrendous superweapon Grand Moff Tarkin had built andThe comm system chimed with a highpriority signal. Sirra reached out to pause the game, freezing the fightercraft images in position over the grid. Lowie hurried to receive the message, already blinking his golden eyes at the sudden emergency announcement that appeared on his screen.
Jacen and Tenel Ka went to look as Lowie bellowed in alarm. "Master Lowbacca, what is it? Let me see," Em Teedee said. "How can you expect me to translate if you won't let me read the text?"
Lowie punched a button so that Jacen and Tenel Ka could see the message.
The comm system translated the words on the screen back into Basic.
"Just a fragment," Jacen said, his blood growing cold. "Something interrupted the transmission."
"It appears serious," Tenel Ka said.
Jacen read, 'Emergency..... injured at computer fabrication facility.....
need your help... please come right away. We-" He frowned, feeling his heart start to pound.
"But who sent it? Who could it be from?"
"It was sent specifically here, to this house," Tenel Ka said. "Someone must have wished to contact us directly."
"But only Jaina and Chewie know we're here," he said, "and they went off to one of the repair docks to work on the Shadow Chaser, not to the computer fabrication facility."
"Perhaps they changed their plans," Tenel Ka said.
Sirra yowled, and Lowie added his own roar. 'Oh my," Em Teedee said,
"Master Lowbacca and Mistress Sirra's parents are at the facility."
"We cannot ignore this problem," Tenel Ka said. "We must go now and confront it. This is a fact."
"You're right about that," Jacen said.
Lowie punched some buttons on the comm system controls a few times, then pounded the apparatus in frustration. 'Master Lowbacca says he is unable to reply to the message," the translating droid said. 'Something appears to be wrong with communications at the facility itself. They've been completely cut off from outside transmissions."
Lowie roared for his sister to summon the fastest bantha mount in the area, while he, Jacen, and Tenel Ka fastened lightsabers to their belts, ready for the worst. The four of them rushed out the door of the tree dwelling.
A shaggy bantha lumbered to their platform in response to Sirra's frantic call. The Sullustan crouching on the beast's wide neck appeared deeply weary, ready to go off shiftbut when the two young Wookiees bared their teeth and roared that this was an emergency, the mousy alien perked up instantly. Jacen clambered aboard and reached down, offering his hand to help Tenel Ka up; she took the aid without complaint. Sirra and Lowie leaped onto the beast of burden's back, and the bantha plodded off.
"This thing can go faster," Jacen cried. "I saw them stampeding once on Tatooine."
Lowie barked an order and the Sullustan urged the creature to greater speed until its pounding feet vibrated the entire wooden walkway.
High in orbit over Kashyyyk, defensive satellites bristled with weapons, designed to target on invading enemy forces. But the satellites remained silent and motionless as a disguised shuttle, drifting in place, opened its hangar bay doors so that a squadron of TIE fighters could drop out.
Weapons powered up, the Imperial fighters ignited their twin ion engines with a loud roar and streaked toward the thick forest below, flying in tight formation. The general battle plan had already been input into their computers. The Imperials intended to strike swiftly, surgically, causing the greatest damage possible in as little time as necessary.
They needed to grab