Star Wars_ Young Jedi Knights 06_ Jedi Under Siege - Kevin J. Anderson [31]
If she could gain enough of a lead and head straight up into orbit, if she could swing around the jungle moon out of visual range, she could cut her engines for a while and drift out into black space. The stealth coating on this ship's armor would be an enormous advantage. If she could just get out of sight, she could make her ship invisible... and she would be safe.
Making use of the ship's acceleration, working with her hands against the increased gravity from the thundering flight, Jaina tilted upward on a straight-line course through the atmosphere, up into space.
The remaining pair of Imperial fighters streaked after her. She didn't know if her acceleration allowed her to fly much faster than the TIE's normal power, but she knew she had to gain distance and use all of her wits.
The atmosphere thinned to a deeper purple, and then the midnight blue of space. To her dismay, she saw that the remaining TIE fighters had closed the distance again, not as much as before, but to within visual range.
Her plan wouldn't work-she could never dodge them and disappear against the silent blackness. Her stealth armor would be useless now.
She wondered if she should fight them head-on again. There was a chance that she could take out both Imperial ships before they shot her down...
but she doubted it.
She was done for.
Just at that moment of despair, Jaina saw a glimmering in the blackness as new ships emerged from hyperspace-reinforcements! New Republic warships! Her heart leaped. It was a small fleet, but well armed, ready to take on the Shadow Academy. Her brother's distress signal must have gotten through.
With a whoop of delight, Jaina adjusted course and shot like a projectile straight toward the fleet of Corellian gunships and corvettes, the quickest bunch the New Republic had been able to muster for the Jedi academy.
Her stolen TIE fighter vibrated as she pushed the acceleration far beyond the red lines. She was still losing power from her damaged side array.
"Come on, come on,Jaina said, biting her lip. The ship had to last only a few moments longer. Just a few moments.
The front Corellian corvette loomed closer and closer. But the enemy TIE
fighters clung right behind her, still shooting.
Jaina spun and dodged until finally she came into range of the New Republic ships.
They began firing huge turbolaser bolts that streaked so close to her ship that the crackling beams dazzled her eyes.
It took Jaina a moment to realize that the gunships were shooting at her!
She quickly understood her folly. Here she was in an Imperial ship diving toward the fleet with two more TIE fighters right behind her, laser cannons blasting. It must have looked like all three craft were on some sort of a suicide run.
She grabbed the comm system, toggled it to an open channel, and broadcast at full power. "New Republic fleet-don't shoot, don't shoot! This is Jaina Solo. I've commandeered an Imperial fighter."
More ships appeared at the side, heavily armed hodgepodge vessels bearing the insignia of GemDiver Station, Lando Calrissian's Corusca-gem processing facility that orbited the gas giant Yavin.
"Jaina Solo?" Lando's voice came over the comm system. "Little lady, what are you doing out here?"
"Turning into space dust, if you guys don't take care of the two TIE
fighters on my tail!"
Admiral Ackbar's voice broke in. "We're targeting now," he said. "Do not fear, Jaina Solo."
"I'm in the front one," she reminded him nervously. "Don't hit the wrong TIE fighter!
Well, what are you waiting for?"
A flurry of turbolaser strikes lanced out around Jaina in a pattern so dense that space became a web of deadly weapons fire.
Dozens of bolts shot from the Corellian gunships and Lando Calrissian's private fleet.
Within moments the two TIE fighters were vaporized, and Jaina let out a long sigh of relief.
Sending a signal from the front Corellian