Star Wars_ Young Jedi Knights 06_ Jedi Under Siege - Kevin J. Anderson [35]
The weapons officers working at their command stations called out in alarm and dismay, "Sir, our targeting locks won't match! Those ships are broadcasting friendly ID signals. We are unable to fire."
"What?" Ackbar said. 'But we can see the Star Destroyers."
"I know, Admiral," the tactical officer shouted. 'But our computers won't fire they think those are New Republic ships.
It's built into the programming."
Suddenly understanding, Jaina exclaimed, "They stole guidance and tactical computer systems during their raid on Kashyyyk! The Imperials must have installed them in their own ships just to confuse our weapons computers. Well have to change our targeting locks, or else we won't be able to fire. The 'Identify Friend or Foe'fail-safe systems will prevent it." Lando Calrissian had been listening on the open channel; his voice now boomed over the comm. "Since my ships from GeniDiver Station use different computers, I guess the first round is up to us." Lando's hodgepodge group of independent ships swept in on the Star Destroyers from all sides, firing a barrage of proton torpedoes at key points to dilute the overall shield strength.
"A little trick I picked up," Lando explained over the comm unit as Jaina stood beside Ackbar watching. "This whole thing reminds me of the battle of Tanaab." Then he gave a whoop of triumph as another volley of torpedoes detonated at once, two of them penetrating the shields and leaving a white-hot chain of flames along the side of one Star Destroyer.
Lando's ships kept firing and firing, but now the Imperials began targeting the smaller craft, leaving Ackbar's vessels alone.
"Admiral," Jaina said, "if the Second Imperium is so clever that they can use our own computer systems to trick us, can't we turn the tables-use our computers against them?"
Ackbar turned his enormous round eyes on her. "What do you have in mind, Jaina Solo?"
She bit her lower hp, then drew a deep breath. The idea was crazy, but
"You're the supreme commander of the entire New Republic fleet. Isn't it programmed into the computers that they must accept some sort of override signal from you in cases of extreme emergency-like this one?"
I Ackbar stared at her, his mouth gaping as if he needed a drink of water or a long breath of moist air. 'By the Force, you're right, Jaina!"
"Well, what are we waiting for?" she said, rubbing her hands together.
"Let's get reprogramming."
After destroying his own student Norys to rescue Jacen Solo, Qorl's insides felt deadened, as if the rest of his body had turned into a droid... just like his mechanical left arm.
After all his years of training and loyalty, he had betrayed the Second Imperium' Betrayed! He had allowed his heart to decide, rather than following blind obedience and cold ambition.
But young Jacen had been kind to him, had helped rescue him, had shown him warmth and friendship, though Qorl knew he had done nothing to deserve it....
He had taken the twins prisoner, threatened their lives, forced them to repair his crashed TIE fighter so he could return to the Empire. Since then he had made small, secret gestures to repay them, such as when he'd cautiously helped them to escape the Shadow Academy. But killing his own student to protect them...
Qorl had committed a grave mistake by making decisions on his own. He should have known better. It wasn't his place to make decisions. He was a TIE pilot, a soldier of the Second Imperium. He helped instruct other pilots and stormtroopers. His allegiance was to the Emperor and his government. Soldiers didn't have the luxury of making up their own minds about which orders to follow and which ones to ignore.
His mind in turmoil, he took his TIE fighter up toward orbit. Most of his squadron had fallen out of formation, attacked or destroyed by unknown defenses on Yavin 4.
He should return and report to his superiors. He would have to decide whether to surrender or confess what he had done...