Chapter XI
"We've got the timetable laid out, and now we have to act," Gavin said as he entered the room where the other pilots waited. "You know, I've got a bad feeling about this," Hobbie said. "If I had a credit for every time you've said that..." Janson began. "... you'd have spent them all on some kind of prank," Tycho interrupted as he finished donning his flight suit. "You expect me to do something else with my credits?" Wes said incredulously. "Change is good," Darklighter quipped. Janson sighed and said, "Alright, let's just get Wedge back so I can leave this outfit."
"Well," Klivian said, "The last time you drank too much Corellian brandy we tricked you into signing a life-time contract instead of the bill." Gavin produced a folded document with the pilot's signature showing at the bottom. "We were just about to present it to the General," a stone-faced Tycho said. Wes grabbed and unfolded it quickly, frowning. "This is a letter of commendation," he blurted, "What did I do to deserve this?" "Rescue General Antilles," said a voice from the door and Celchu saw Garm Bel Iblis standing there. "Now's its time to earn it," the General said with a smile. Janson smiled and said, "Consider it done!"
"Whose crazy idea was this anyways?" Lando regarded his friend with derision as they surveyed the ruined interior of the bay. "Okay," Han said, "Maybe that wasn't the best question I could've asked." Leia stepped up beside him and said, "Your plan worked so far, Han. With my lightsaber we can slip into an adjoining hangar, hack into their database and download a map of the area so we can hightail it out of here." "Right," Solo said, "Come on, Goldenrod." They led the droid to the wall, where Leia cut an opening. Hopefully the Falcon would distract the local starfighters as it flew above the planet and no one would notice their activity here.
"Princess Leia, I must protest," Threepio said, "Artoo is much better than I am at this sort of thing. You could have him accompany you to this forsaken place." Calrissian gestured to the terminal and said, "Stop talking and start typing!" Leia and Han had secured a nearby shuttle in the meantime. Lando stood over the shoulder of C-3PO, urging him to hurry. "Our hosts have left us a few surprises," Han said from the ramp of the shuttle as Lando and the droid came on board. "Their ships are set to blow once they get a certain distance from this part of the galaxy, and I bet they have a program in any set of star charts that will make them decay over time."
"I was only able to get the maps for nearby sectors, Captain Solo," Threepio said, plugging a data card into the navigational computer. A display of nearby space was soon visible. "That's interesting," he said, fingering his mustache. "What is it?" Leia said, obviously noting his dark suspicions. "A small out of the way planet called Monark, with no defense, colonies or even a regular military presence. Yet with frequent visits from outside their space; you think that they're hiding something?" "We just have to go there and find out," Han said as the shuttle lifted off, "Once we're of the system, we need to formulate our escape plan once we find out what this place holds."
Wedge sat in his cell, mentally keeping track of the time since he had received the signal. If everything went according to plan, he would soon be on his way to freedom along with the Lusankya and Sluis Van. His capture was still fresh in his mind, and he knew that his stay here was almost at an end. Silently, he crept over to the air duct and slipped inside.
His accomplice had long since gimmicked the holocams, of course. As he made his way to freedom, he also considered what little he knew of the situation in the New Republic and the Imperial Remnant. Things could be better, he mused, shifting direction and beginning a vertical climb. Time to aid the process any way that he could.
"Welcome to Yaga Minor, General," Pellaeon said to the hologram of Bel Iblis. "It's good to be here, under whatever circumstances," Garm told him, "Let Booster know that the Errant Venture will be returned to him as we agreed." "And you'll never hear the end of it if you damage her," Gilad said. "Something like that," the General said, "I suggest we leave soon. There will never be a better time to strike." "Agreed," the Admiral said, "Our ships are ready, are yours?" "Affirmative," Bel Iblis said, "May the Force be with us." That said, the entire array of vessels headed out and soon left the shipyards far behind.
Valiant, last-ditch efforts characterized the battle going on around them. Even though their forces appeared to be losing, Rashan knew that the Grand Admiral's objective had never been to take this planet. The comm officer came to his side and handed him a data pad. It took him only a few moments to understand the import of the message.
"Grand Admiral Vhaldoq, sir," Kyle said as he drew near his superior, "We've received two very important transmissions. The fleet massing at Yaga Minor has departed for Bastion and a freighter bearing the description of the Millennium Falcon made an attack on Qniyt and was last seen headed for Monark." "Have the blockading ships prepare a proper reception for Admiral Pellaeon and the General," D'ukal instructed, "What Solo and his friends do is of no concern to us. Have the rest of the fleet prepare to leave this system." Rashan relayed the orders and they had soon left the planet they had been harassing behind.