Chapter 8
Anakin Skywalker watched as Myrkr came into view. He had never liked the planet, and the fact that the Vong had killed his grandson there during the war didn't make matters any better.
A Yuuzhan Vong worldship slowly came into view from the night side of the planet. "Sithspit! Those Vong ships are ugly!" he muttered to himself. He had seen holos of the ships and simmed against Vong ships, but that wasn't like seeing them in real life.
"Suns, group up around the Ralroost," ordered Jaina. As Anakin moved into position, a Lambda-class shuttle launched from the Mon Mothma's main landing bay. He assumed it was carrying the taskforce leaders, General Antilles and Colonel Celchu.
A quartet of skips detached from the world ships and escorted the shuttle down to the planet.
"Lead, Nine. What are we doing here?" Anakin called over the comm.
"We're asking for some worldships to go with us to fight the CSA."
"Oh. Understood lead."
Anakin thought about that for a while. A million questions popped up in his head. How will they communicate with us? How will they fuel themselves? Anakin shoved those thoughts out of his head when a warning light started flashing red on his control panel.
"By all that makes a Hutt ugly!"
The CSA fleet had dropped out of hyperspace practically on top of the Rebellion fleet. "Three flight! Keep their fighters off of the shuttle Rebel Truimph. We've got to make sure General Antilles and Colonel Celchu get back to their ships," ordered Jaina.
"Rebellion forces! This is Warmaster Vrisqi Kla, of the Yuuzhan Vong Colony Defense Forces. We will be glad to assist you in your battle against the Corporate Sector Authority! Another worldship is heading here from the night side of the planet, as are several mataloks and other support vessels. May Yun-Yuuzhan bless you! Death and dismemberment to your enemies!"
That was strange, thought Anakin. The worldship began to close in on the CSA fleets and send plasma blasts its way. All the while, coralskippers continued to detach from the ship.
Anakin raced towards the shuttle and the four TIEs pursuing it. "Kind of remind you of the Adumari, eh Hobbie?" came Wes Janson's voice over the comm. Anakin looked out to starboard and saw Janson's X-wing painted a blinding yellow, with black stripes at even intervals across the S-foils. Next to it, Hobbie Klivian's X-wing was all black, with the Rogue Squadron crest on the side in blood-red paint.
"Yeah, don't remind me. I've forgiven Wedge for putting us in women's clothing," Hobbie replied mournfully.
Anakin grinned and targeted a TIE. Switching to proton torpedoes, he kept on him for a lock. When his R2 chimed a notification he had succeeded, he pulled the trigger and two lances of blue light hurtled through space at the TIE. Hobbie and Janson took out two more and Twin Suns Twelve had taken out the last one.
"Sithspit!" someone yelled over the comm. A clutch had latched onto Twelve and was following the kid's every move.
"Hang on Twelve. I'm on the way," said Anakin through clenched teeth. Twelve was eighteen, a hotshot bush pilot from the Outer Rim. Too young to die, thought Anakin.
Finally the tri-fighter triggered a laser burst which completely destroyed the rear third of the X-wing. Anakin grimaced as he prepared to hear the kid die, but then he saw the cockpit fill with flames from the ejection chair as it shot off into space.
"Twin Suns Twelve is extra-vehicular! Twelve is EV!"
"Got it Starkiller," said Tycho Celchu. "We'll bring the shuttle around and pick him up. Provided you and those two yokels you're flying with can keep the TIEs off of us while we do it."
"Hey!" Janson said indignantly.
But the need for defending the shuttle disappeared as the TIEs veered off and raced for their Star Destroyers as the remaining Destroyers themselves began maneuvering to go to lightspeed.
Anakin gave chase and got a few more TIEs before the CSA fleet jumped out of system.
The normally silent Requiem let out a whoop. "We showed them!"
"Neg the comclutter Five! You're not fourteen anymore," said Jaina, but her tone wasn't really scolding. She actually sounded exuberant as well.
Wedge's voice crackled over the comm. "We're heading to Commenor. Warmaster, woud you mind waiting here for a week or two? We need some time to resupply what we lost at Kamar."
"Not at all, General. The Colony Defense Fleet is at your disposal. We shall be on the lookout for Corporate Sector Authority activity. General Antilles, if I may, could I have an audience with you and the one called Anakin Starkiller. It is of the utmost importance, concerning the safety of you and your fleet."
"That would be fine. We could use a few hours to regroup before we head for Commenor. Would you mind meeting me on the Mon Mothma in an hour?"
"That will be fine. Warmaster out."