CHAPTER 11

The streaming blue of hyperspace evaporated instantly when the ship slowed toward their destination. Carletta didn't talk to Matturn the whole trip and lost herself in her thoughts. She guessed what kind of a fight they'd be put through, whether it be a simple dogfight, or boarding a larger vessel to hit them from the inside out, yet she remained clueless as to what it was. She could've asked Matturn, since he showed signs of knowing, exactly what sort of threat they'd be pitted against, but she worried the answer would be as clear as a Tattooine day. She'd proven to be a lot of things to him, but being stupid was not one she wanted on the list.

Now, Carletta saw what the problem was. A single Star Destroyer was being tormented by nearly twenty smaller ships. Some were of the Fury-class model Carletta was flying in, others were nimble fighters that made quick and brutal passes on the already blazing battleship. Its turbolasers tried to desperately land a hit, its neon green blasterfire rapidly hounding the attacker, but to no avail.

The newly entered combatant encroached upon the battle, passing a few wrecks the Star Destroyer had managed to take out.

'I'd strap myself in if I were you.' Matturn warned. 'Things are about to get very frantic.'

As soon as he said it, the ship burst with sudden speed into the fray. Clearly they were already detected as a couple fighters approached them, yet they did not fire. Carletta guessed they were unsure if they were fighting for their side. A green light flashed, accompanied by a small bleeping sound.

'Master, they're contacting us.' said Carletta, when Matturn didn't open the channel.

'I know, they want to know our intentions and affiliation.' said Matturn smoothly.

'Then why don't we say we're with them and and go with a surprise attack?'

'Ah, well that would be a good option wouldn't it? But you see there's a snag with that idea. It's no secret that I'm a very trusted ally of Jadus' and seeing how I've arrived at the very doorstep of his cruiser it would be very easy to assume I'm hardly on their side, so I'm afraid' – he suddenly banked left and landed several direct hits on the nearest fighter – 'we'll have to take the less subtle approach.'

Carletta never thought of Matturn as something of a flying ace, he just didn't seem like the sort of person that could actually be one, but once again he surprised her. With a surgical like precision, he flew the ship right by the remnants of the blown up fighter as its companion craft swooped past and looped around to give chase. The faster spacecraft caught up and fired its neon green laserfire. Carletta felt a horrible judder as it made contact, but Matturn hardly looked flustered. Suddenly he dived and set the ship spinning, the fighter mimicking its movement. Then he pulled right up, launching Carletta's insides all over the place. He continued to head up with the fighter still on their tale when he flicked a lever and the engines died. The fighter couldn't respond to its rapid killing of speed and overshot them. Carletta could actually feel the glee in Matturn as he brought the ship back to life and fired at the defenceless opponent. It didn't stand a chance.

'That didn't last as long as I'd thought, the others haven't spotted us. We have the edge of surprise still.' he said casually.

'Are we docking in the Star Destroyer then?' said Carletta, trying not to sound too hopeful.

'I think you're clever enough to understand the amount of fighters must continue to dwindle my apprentice. We'll work from the outside, then worry about the interior. Now get to the turret, as much as I enjoy this, I know when there's too much for one pilot. Go.'

Without hesitation (Matturn had made sure, by ruthless means, that she never make such a mistake) Carletta ran out of her seat to a ladder inside a small chamber set in the middle of the ship. She clambered up into a chair, grabbing hold of both firing handles. As she pressed a few buttons, a small screen popped out from underneath the chair, showing an empty grid. She felt the ship bank to the right and was soon meeting the tail end of another fighter. Her reflexes were fast, fast enough to blow up the small vessel before it could evade any shots, but could she go through with it? A split second of doubt crept inside her, hesitance to easily end someone's life. However the punishment Matturn would throw upon her for such pathetic weakness brought a fear that made up her mind. The fighter was blown to pieces in an instant. Carletta comforted her with the thought that it was, at least, a painless death.

That last fighter would be the last easy kill until a few more broke off from their attack runs at the Star Destroyer, quickly getting into formation. The sight was intimidating as well as difficult to fight against, but the way Matturn flew the ship straight for them proved how undeterred he was in facing them. As they closed in, Carletta pressed the triggers, firing wildly at the squadron. All of them evaded her blasts and let out laserfire of their own. A massive judder rocked through the ship, making Carletta almost slip out of her seat, but stopped herself and swivelled around to return the favour.

The fighters had split up and were far from them now, yet Matturn did nothing in changing course to catch them. Carletta decided he wanted to test her, so she began to clear her thoughts and reach to the Force for some added help.

The fighters were back in formation now, aiming for another run at them, but Carletta kept the gun steady, setting her sights on the leader. She glanced at the grid and saw her target in a perfect position, but just when she was about to fire, the squadron pulled up slightly. The setback irritated Carletta at how she had to be so precise, especially when she now had to make a difficult shot of aiming high. She would have to make it work though, as the fighters swooped in, ready to take care of this pesky distraction.

The turret guns moved as high as they could. Carletta kept it steady as Matturn was with flying the ship. In a moment of instinct she set the guns blazing. Whether it was guidance from the Force, or that strange, logic arguing, power that both Jedi and Sith hardly believed in, known as luck, Carletta wasn't sure as the shot went straight into a fighters wing and blew it clean off. The unstable craft banked violently to its left and smashed into its neighbouring squad member. Both of them met a fiery end.

The squadron was thrown into some disarray as they broke off from their second run. Carletta caught one in a dangerous position and shot it down. Matturn seemed satisfied with her results since he now flew the ship straight after the disconcerted enemy. The combination of his graceful flying and Carletta's aim proved all too deadly, as they dealt with the rest of the squadron in little time.

When the last fighter was sent to its grave, Matturn sent for Carletta back to the cockpit. A strange order when there were still more ships out there.

'What is it?' she asked.

'We're boarding.'

'But there are still some left.'

'Not enough to pose a danger in destroying Jadus' ship though. Besides, the greater threat lurks inside now. With most of the fighters gone we now have a clear path to the hangar bay.' Matturn increased the speed and the ship boosted straight for the injured warship. 'Before we land however, I need to tell you something.'

'What is it?'

'You killed those pilots without much hesitation. You realised their weakness, exploited it and punished them for showing that weakness. This time will be different. You'll likely face troops and fellow Sith Lords in close combat. This isn't a targeting game any more, this is face to face combat that separates the skilled and intelligent from the poorly trained fools that can't match them. I want you to be the former in that situation, so I am not asking, but telling you to let go of all pity and mercy and get on with finally putting that lightsaber of yours to good use. Understood?'

His dangerous tone was both unsettling and commanding, one that gave Carletta a clear impression of what might happen if she didn't follow.

'Yes, Master.'

He said no more and the ship cruised closer to the Star Destroyer. Other fighters soon spotted their approach and made their way to intercept, but Matturn couldn't have been less concerned. Applying some more speed, the ship bolted for the nearby hangar bay, but not without getting hit a couple times. It was a large space, but they'd entered with such speed, Carletta braced herself for a very possible impact. It never came however, since Matturn harshly braked in time before hitting the wall. Once the landing gear deployed, they hunkered down and strode off.

When Carletta walked off the ramp she realised the full extent of the attack. Troops, crew, droids, even Sith Lords bodies littered the hangar. Some riddled with blasterfire, others sliced from the strokes of lightsabers. A handful of landing craft neighboured their ship, one of which was a burning wreck, likely caused by grenades, or a missile. From her guesses, the attacking force must have been formidable, but not invincible. She reckoned half the casualties she saw belonged to the opposing side.

They walked through the gut wrenching fight, yet Carletta barely felt effected. This was simply a common sight at the temple, only on a larger scale. Any feeling of terror, or fear had drifted away a long time ago.

'No one's here. Wouldn't there be some to guard the ships though?' she thought aloud.

'Not unless they want to push forward to the head of the serpent. As you can see, they lost more than a few of their own inside the hanger bay alone. I'd assume they can't spare anyone to keep guard, so we still have the surprise at our advantage.'

Matturn headed for the corridor, but its blast doors were shut. He observed the control panel and pressed a couple buttons that did nothing.

'Must have shut off its mechanism to stop anyone reaching their ships.'

The two of them ignited their sabers and cut a circle in the door. With the Force they carefully lifted the heavy metal piece out and clambered through the makeshift doorway.

Aside from more bodies scattered about the corridors, they met not a single breathing soul. It wouldn't have been crazy to assume both sides had annihilated each other, it was so quiet.

'Shall we contact Jadus?' said Carletta quietly.

'No. For all we know, the enemy might have already got a hold on comms by now.' said Matturn sternly, his movements having become very cautious and alert. Carletta did the same when they came round a corner and met another closed door. She reached out with the Force and came to the conclusion that danger was ahead, encouraging her to get her lightsaber at the ready. Matturn certainly felt the same as he brought out his blade too. He beckoned her to open the door, so she apprehensively pressed a couple buttons and unlike previously, the door did indeed slide open. At that moment Carletta believed Matturn to be right; she was going to be putting her lightsaber to good use, very much so.