Chapter XVII
"Just what we needed," Leia Organa Solo muttered at his side, shaking her head as she looked out at the strike force that was assailing Denon. Vhaldoq suspected that it would take much more to convince this fleet to leave the system on this occasion, and D'ukal wondered how it all fit into the Sith Lord's scheme. "I will use all my resources to bolster your defenses," the Grand Admiral told her.
"Yes, but does anybody down there know that they can trust you?" she countered, "I'm not even sure I can believe that you had no idea this would happen." "It was a distinct possibility," he admitted, "In fact, that was one of the reasons I decided to come here next." But Leia's attention was no longer directed at him, but instead at the shifting battle lines before them. It only took Vhaldoq a moment to find the source of her interest and he had to smile faintly at the sight.
"Perhaps we should hail them," D'ukal suggested, "A word from you or your husband might be sufficient to let those in charge of this planet's defenses know we mean them no harm." Organa Solo stepped over to the comm station, slipping on a headset and talking earnestly into it for a minute or two.
"Han will send the message, but since the war with the Empire has been over for some time I doubt they'll be unwilling to accept your services," she told him. "Especially since they're already being rendered," the Grand Admiral said softly as the two groups continued to pound away at one another.
"Just like old times, eh?" Jag smiled but didn't answer as the nimble clawcraft cut another of the enemy starfighters to shreds. While he and Jaina weren't exactly nearby, they were fighting the same battle in the way they had at the height of the war with the Yuuzhan Vong. He had drawn close to her in that time, and hoped for a chance to continue their relationship in the future. This conflict was merely another obstacle to overcome.
"If you mean the days when the Emperor threw everything at his foes and then some, I wasn't around for that," Fel said. "Neither was I," Jaina said, "But we've logged a lot of hours up against tougher foes than these. Sometimes I think the only way Palpatine stayed on top was through overwhelming force." The creation of the Death Star seemed to support that notion, and again Jag had reason to speculate on the sort of government the man who his father had chosen to follow might have spawned.
But since those days were also dead and gone, such thoughts only served to distract him. As his clawcraft came about, he saw that the enemy Super Star Destroyer was growing dark as a shadow covered its bulk. Jagged frowned, knowing that they weren't even close to the night side as he glanced towards the source of the darkness. His eyes widened as he recognized the silhouette and he hit the control that allowed him to transmit a message in the clear where everyone could hear it.
"Incoming vessel on course for battle zone!" Fel called out, "Eclipse-class Star Destroyer on rapid approach from polar orbit!" On the tactical screen, he could see the shift in the formation as the vessels below turned their attention to the behemoth that was bearing down upon them and Jag wondered how they could face anything of that magnitude.
The decks of the enemy flagship were quiet as Jacen went along, with none of the usual alarms present during a battle. Either the person in charge knew his crew was aware of the situation, Solo thought, or there wasn't anyone to hear them. Considering the sparse indications he was receiving thru the Force, the young man was inclined to believe the latter. He sensed concern from his family as some new element entered the fray, and Jacen got the sense of an encompassing veil being thrown over the engagement.
Finding an unoccupied turbolift, Solo was able to soon begin his climb to the bridge. His decision to come onboard had been part curiosity and part simple military tactics. If the individuals in charge needed persuasion to leave the system, he could provide it. And if the man who had spoken in their behalf was here, Jacen had to know the truth about him as well.
Given all that he had heard of his legendary grandfather, Solo knew that was the last person he wished to be up against. As he went, Jacen shut himself off from the turmoil outside the vessel lest it distract him and poured all of his concentration into speeding his ascent. If somebody knew what he was up to, it wouldn't take much effort on their part to slow him down. Having finally reached the appropriate deck, Jacen whipped out his lightsaber and cut through the lock.
The doors slid aside and the young Jedi vaulted outside. The bridge was busy, but that was unnoticed as the individual standing before him regarded Jacen. There was no change in his bearing as the armored man drew and ignited a red-white blade and stood ready. "I have been waiting for you," said Darth Vader.
