Star Wars: Force Heretic II: Refugee by Sean Williams; Shane Dix

Author:Sean Williams; Shane Dix
Language: eng
Format: azw3, mobi
Tags: Science fiction, Skywalker, Star Wars fiction, General, Luke (Fictitious character), Life on other planets, Fiction
ISBN: 9780345428714
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Published: 2003-04-29T07:00:00+00:00

PART CONSECRATION

"Disappointed?" The note of incredulity in Jag's voice could barely hide his irritation. "Jaina is still missing and you think I might be disappointed that I'm not going to see the ceremony?" The voice of Twin Sun Three fell silent, her attempt at lightening the mood having fallen painfully flat.

Jag clicked twice to remind his pilots not to clutter the airwaves, even as he chided himself for being snappy. He was concerned by Jaina's continued absence, but at the same time he had to trust in Jaina's ability to look after herself. Besides which, if anything terrible had happened to her, he was sure Leia would sense it. That Jaina hadn't called for help yet through the Force suggested that she was at least still in control of her situation-whatever that might be. And until such a time as she did get in touch with anyone, he would just have to continue on as though everything were normal-and that meant concentrating on flying.

He had taken a mixed flight out to patrol the edges of Selonia's orbit, wary of any "unauthorized" activity while attention was focused below. Both P'w'eck and Bakuran contingents were quiet, the two big alien assault carriers, Errinung'ka and Firrinree, orbiting in quadrants diametrically opposed to the two local defenders, Defender and Sentinel.

The latter had two full squadrons of P'w'eck fighter craft stationed at close quarters, plus two squat picket ships. If things were to turn nasty, for whatever reason, they could do a lot of damage while the Bakurans tried to get their balance. While Jag obviously hoped nothing untoward would happen, he had to think tactically.

"Don't just outguess your enemy," his father had once said, "but outsee him, too. Always assume that he's two steps ahead of the current play, and be three steps ahead yourself." Jag took his clawcraft and his two wingmates in a wide arc around Selonia. The frigate basked in the light of Bakura's sun, unmolested and apparently completely ignored by the forces surrounding it.

He could sense games all around him, moving slowly toward their endplays. It irked him once again to be so far away from the action taking place below on Bakura's surface. But if nothing came of it, and all his second-guessing proved unfounded, he wouldn't be disappointed. A large part of him agreed with Leia that maybe, just maybe, this deal with the P'w'eck would turn out to be the best thing that had ever happened to Bakura...

The voice of the comm operator on Selonia suddenly cut across his thoughts.

"Launches detected!"

"I'm on it," he said, quickly swinging his clawcraft in the direction of the numerous vessels his sensors detected emerging from Sentinel's launching bays. His wingmates were close behind him, following him in for a closer look.

"Has Bakuran Defense Fleet advised us of the launches?" he asked.

The number of ships leaving the cruiser was already up to twenty and still rising.

"As far as they're concerned, I don't think they feel they have to," came the reply. "But I'll check with them anyway.

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