Chapter 13
"Everybody strap in." Han shouted over his shoulder, "This could get bumpy."
"I guess that's our cue." Sheppard beckoned Lando back from the cockpit. The two had been overseeing the drop out of hyperspace, but neither wanted to try surviving a possibly catastrophic crash from a standing position. They moved back to the crew lounge to join General Madine and his associate. "You think Han'll talk us through this? There's still plenty of time for us to get shot down…"
"Sheppard! You say it, it happens. How many missions in Pegasus did you doom by tempting lady Luck?" Demanded Madine.
"We've got nothing to worry about." Lando answered." Han could sweet talk the fleas off a bantha"
"You know what, what does any of that mean? Demanded Sheppard, you guys just take common phrases and colloquialism and swap in some weird space animal."
"Sorry we're not so provincial." Lando grinned clapping Sheppard. "Hey why don't we take a trip to a faraway planet to visit your twelve year old girlfriend?"
"Tey'la was never my girlfriend" Sheppard protested, "I thought she would make a valuable ally."
"Right, that's why the next mission you sent us on was to visit your ancient ascended lady friend." Lando retorted, "You got some weird tastes man."
"You're last girlfriend was green!" Sheppard retorted outraged.
"You two are awfully jovial." Madine observed, "We ARE about to crash you know."
"We're not gonna crash," Lando assured him "Han'll skim this baby in the water like a.." he faltered under Sheppard's withering stare.
"Krayt Dragon?" Sheppard submitted helpfully
"First he has to con imperial city into believing they lost a shipment of drones, then he has to explain why its not being conveyed in a military transport. THEN we get to fake a crash into the southern lake bed, and hope there's an underwater Jumper bay entrance nobody's ever noticed." Madine replied testily, "What about this plan could go smoothly?
"Relax." Sheppard answered, "Back home we did stuff like this all the time, it'll be fine!" Suddenly an explosion rocked the Falcon. "Nah I didn't believe it either." Sheppard grumbled starting to undue his restraints. Suddenly electronic noise crackled over the seldom used intercom.
"..don't give a kriff about the paint job on the escape pod, we'll be lucky to come out of this in one… ah hello everyone this is your captain speaking, we have a bit of a problem. We are going to plan B." Chewie roared in the background and the ship shuddered again. "Which is of course, to actually crash rather than faking it. Everyone stay strapped in, we can still hit the city, this'll just add to the illusion."
"Hit the city?" Madine demanded of Sheppard.
"Fear is the path to the dark side you know." Sheppard said smiling disarmingly.
The ship took another hit and began to shudder violently as it hit atmosphere, air screaming against the hull. The lights flickered and then failed. In the darkness Lando heard him mutter, " I think we're in deep Sith."
"Approaching Atlantis." Wedge reported. flipping a few switches, the ship exited hyperspace. Before them floated the Mon Calamari home world, about which orbited the city,. Protected by its shimmering shield. "Looks like the docks getting crowded."
Before them the city was indeed crowded, with three of its six docks hosting an ancient warship. A cluster of smaller freighters and transports occupied a fourth dock, and to Han's surprise, Home One hovered protectively above. As they watched, it received pulse of light from one of the city's ring platforms.
"Magnificent." Adama murmured behind them, "Your people have built wonders in this galaxy rivaling the glories of old. It makes me feel young again."
Wdge said nothing. He had reached out with the force to probe Adama when he had first ppeared, and had been nearly overwhelmed by just how ancient the man was. Yoda maintained a timeless presence, unique in the force as he was nearly eight hundred, his wealth of experience, and wisdom were a deep resonant point, Adama, was practically a black hole, Wedge shivered at the thought of living for eon after eon.
"There have been many advances since the discovery of Imperial city, more still came with Atlantis." Ackbar observed, "Alas, it seems war is the catalyst for progress."
"The ships and the technology change, but the will to struggle against injustice and tyranny remains timeless." Adama replied, "An echo of a larger battle on a grander scale I'm afraid, that we may be losing. Starbuck is very important in that battle, yet he is unaware of this."
"Hows that exactly?" Wedge asked as he guide the Dodonna into the shield, "The man's an ancient, with unlimited knowledge."
"Oh there are limits." Adama replied, "Characterized especially by a beings willingness to see. Starbuck possesses an agile mind but a humble one . His disarming nature prevents him from seeing his influence on the grand scheme of things and thus, the shape of those things he affects. Myself I can scarcely wrap by mind around it when ascended, much less in this form, and to describe it in your terms well.." he shrugged, "We are sculptors shaping our form in time and space, our interactions. There are those who would define us, limit us, and shape us to their own needs."
"The Empire." Wedge replied in understanding, but Adama shook his head and sighed.
"If already a student can cook, teach about fire, you need not." Yoda commented.
Adama started and peered at the diminutive Jedi, "You possess an uncommon wisdom Mater Yoda, and you are correct in principle Commander Antilles I grow impatient because of my concern for Starbuck."
"Well Sheppard was right when he pointed out your presence would not go undetected. If Starbuck's being held on the Death star, Han and Madine can be in and out under Thrawn's nose."
"Indeed, and with the powers granted me by my ascension I will be able to take the steps necessary to make Atlantis a suitable distraction." Adama affirmed. Still I am uneasy about the loss of life this may incur."
"it is regrettable." Ackbar replied as Wedge powered down the ship, "But Thrawn abolished slavery, he prefers willing followers. No one on imperial city nor the Death Star is innocent. They are all soldiers of the Empire, and we are at war. We must think of the greater good."
"Don't worry Adama, Han will be flying Starbuck out on the Falcon before you know it." Wedge assured him as they turned to disembark.
Sheppard awoke to the sound of Han swearing and sloshing through water. With a start he realized frigid water was rising up over his knees. A single flickering emergency light provided nowhere near enough illumination from beneath the surface of the water. He fumbled at his restraints and slid around the table. Lando was stirring groggily, Madine was shaking his lieutenant. With a sinking sensation Sheppard realized from the angle of the man's neck he was dead.
"The bay door's jammed!" Han shouted in the darkness, " I can't even see to…"
With a thrum Sheppard's light saber ignited/
"Watch it!" roared Han leaping to the side, "I don't need to lose an arm here."
Sheppard ignored him and sloshed over to the hold, plunging his lightsaber into the door.
"Just sever the bolts, here." Han shouted above the rushing water, "Here!" The falcon groaned. Sheppard cut the bolt and the door swung open. More water poured out but so did half a dozen commandos looking relieved.
"How do we get out of here?" Sheppard demanded, "Are we near the door?
"We get to the airlock, the breathers are inside." Han shouted, "Crix, leave him we can't do anything."
"We're not getting out on the falcon" Lando commented putting a hand on han's shoulder. The man slumped, "I know." Chewie roared something. "Your damn right we ill." Han said, "After this is over, this deep under water she might just survive the explosion."
Sheppard doubted the ship could be salvaged but the man had lost enough over the years. He led the way to the airlock.
"General we're exiting hyperspace" advised a technician. The CIC in Atlantis, buried deep within the city's basement was an orderly hive of activity. Yoda hobbled over to the holotanks. He had retained the walking stick out off habit, though his body seemed much restored from its previous state. He moved with a bit more vicogr his eyes were sharper and his ears drooped a bit less. "Reading imperial city landed on the surface of the planet, one star destroyer in orbit. Imperial city is demanding to know our identity"
"No response will you give. Power from the engines, to the shield transfer. Yoda ordered, To the chair room put me through."
"Receiving hail from the Tria The comm officer reported.
"Communication open as well."
"Yes sir." Replied the technician. A comm officer turned. "Relay ready sir." A holo popped up of Adama recline in an ancient chair. Wedge stood beside him.
"Its as we thought, the new Republic hasn't gotten anything in this deep for months, Thrawn's keeping his forces elsewhere. We've detected picket ships nearby however, we'll have company in under an hour."
"That city contains formidable defenses." Adama interjected, "In addition to a drone chair, I am detecting numerous heavy turbo laser batteries, and its shield rivals that of Atlantis. A few of the new Dodonna class ships with us we could have taken this thing."
"A distraction we are, is all. Reveal our identity yet we cannot." Yoda said firmly "Adama, prepared are you?"
"I am." Said Adama watching the floating displays above him, "The gene re-sequencing took some getting used to, but I believe I have halted its progress exactly where I need it to be, and the change to my DNA has given me access to the systems of Atlantis."
"General Calrissian had the city's drones fully stocked from the remains of another derelict we encountered." The technician beside him offered helpfully, "We have all the ammo we'll need."
"Arrived, our escorts have?" Yoda asked."
"Reading three Aurora class warships flanking us, awaiting orders."
"Upon the city open fire." Yoda commanded, "All batteries, firing commence."
The city of Atlantis and her escorts unleashed swarms of drones upon the city. A patrol of TIE fighters soaring to meet them was annihilated immediately, two of the ancient warships targeted the Star Destroyer.
"The city's taking damage!" reported the technician, "They got their shield up but its taking a pounding, the Star destroyer is squawking for reinforcements but we're jamming everything they have."
"Their shuttles we cannot jam." Yoda pointed out and sure enough a shuttle flashed off into hyperspace to get clear.
"The status of the strike team, can you determine?" Yoda asked.
"Detecting wreckage consistent with a crashed YT1300 beneath the surface, too much interference to read life signs."
"Sheppard lives." Yoda assured, "Succeeded the jammer has."
"They had dispatched a recue craft, but its turning back," the technician replied.
"Check your blasters." Han advised, They were standing just inside the airlock, clothes dripping. Sheppard began to shed his flight suit.
"What are you doing? We don't have time for this." Lando said.
"I'm not running around a covert op in a bright orange flight suit." Sheppard shot back, " We can make the time if it keeps us getting killed." Beneath he wore his grey fatigues from Atlantis, he adjusted his flak vest and clipped his light saber to his belt. Madine and his men were doing the same, as was Han. Chewie of course had not worn a suit. They turned to regard Lando. Rebelliously Lando opened the top of his flight suit enough to show bare chest. Han coughed discretely.
"Didn't get the memo huh Lando?" Lando glared.
A final arrival rolled through the airlock beeping indignantly.
"I can't believe the little guy is watertight, and I don't even want to know where he was hiding that propeller." Sheppard commented slapping Artoo's dome affectionately.
"Alright Sheppard enough messing around, we have a mission to complete." Madine said briskly, "Which way to the power core?"
"If the layout is similar to Atlantis we're in the right section of the city but several dozen levels down." Sheppard replied, "Artoo can interface the city's blue prints to be more specific. The little droid rolled over to the wall beneath an interface, and a connector extended up from his dome. A few moments later it projected a wireframe hologram outlining a path.
"Look at this, they have a hyper matter back up to their ZPMs." Han observed. Chewie whuffled something. "I know buddy I know, lets get this job over with, Atlantis may be more advanced but this'll be a tough nut to crack the hard way.
"Lets move, quickly and quietly." Madine ordered, leading the way.