Star Wars_ Young Jedi Knights 07_ Shards of Alderaan - Kevin J. Anderson [32]
Checking for his best exit path, Lowie verified the orbital streams plotted on the navigation screen. He scratched his ginger-colored fur and hoped he wouldn't have to resort to so many U-turn maneuvers to depart from the rubble field.
Now that the companions weren't aimlessly searching for some unknown target, charting their path back to the Jedi academy on Yavin 4 should be a simple task-or so Lowie hoped.
Just then a strange ship appeared from out of nowhere, its weapons powered up.
Without warning, the enemy ship blasted at them.
The first set of high-energy bolts streaked by, heating up the edges of their shields..
Luckily, because of all the space debris, @wle had already set the shields to mammum as a simple precaution. He roared in alarm. The other young Jedi knights cried out, txying to hold on through the concussion.
Another laser blast hammered against their shields.
The Wookiee reacted quickly with his Jedi senses, yanking at the ship's propulsion controls. Reeling the Rock Dragon away, he employed an unorthodox strategy and shot straight up into the heart of the asteroid field.
The attacking ship fired at them again, and Lowie spun their cruiser around, jerking the ship backward, realigning their course, and firing his thrusters at maximum.
The reckless maneuvers knocked Em Teedee loose and threw him to the floor. As Jacen and Tenel Ka both scrambled to retrieve him, the little droid wailed, "We're doomed! We're doomedr Jaina dropped her precious shard of Alderaan and sat up in the copilot's seat, struggling to focus on the emergency at hand. "Who's firing at us?" she said, peering through the main windowport. 'I @t see the ship! Didn't they send out any warnings" Tenel Ka tossed Em Teedee up to Jaina, who plugged the droid into the navigation console.
Another laser blast burned by, narrowly missing the Rock Dragon. Lowie punched the accelerators, trying to gain distance.
Jacen said, "Can't say much for this guy's manners-he didn't even introduce himself before he fired." He and Thnel Ka crawled back to their seats, holding on as Lowie spun around again, flying a frantic evasive pattern.
Jaina fought with the controls, concentrating on their onboard defenses.
"I can't find the armament systems,' she said. "We've got to have weapons!"
Tenel Ka said, "My grandmother would have made certain we were fully armed."
'Yes, but I didn't intend to take us into battle," Jaina replied. "I haven't studied the weapons systems yet!"
Lowie snapped a comment and continued to fly, dodging through the debrisbut the sleek enemy ship came close in their wake. Em Teedee said for him, "I agree with Master Lowbacca. We've no time either for target practice or to learn these systems. I suggest we retreat immediately."
"We're trying,' Jaina said, her jaw tight.
"But who is this guy? What does he wantother than to blow us into space dust."
Tenel Ka reached forward to the comm system and activated it. "Attacking ship, please identify yourself. We mean you no harm." She waited, but the other ship did not respond.
'Maybe it's one of those pirates we thought might be hiding in the asteroid field," Jacen suggested.
"You may be correct, Jacen," Tenel Ka said.
"Here, I've got some of the weapons systems on-Ene,"Jaina said. 'But this sure isn't like the Falcon." She punched several buttons, then fired. Her laser shots went wide. The strange-looking ship kept coming behind them, undaunted by the display of firepower.
"Small attack vessel,' Jaina muttered, checking her readouts. "Fast, high-powered, and packing more weapons than I can scan... this guy means business!"
"Let's just hope his business isn't to add us to the rubble of Alderaan!"
Jacen said.
As if in response to Jacen's comment, the enemy ship fired again, damaging their shields. The impact sent a shudder through the Rock Dragon's cockpit. Red lights burned on their control panels.
With a roar, Lowie plunged into