Chapter Thirty
Danni placed her datapad of notes on the conference room table. After the explosion of the Worldship, Danni had been ordered to analyze various pieces of Vong biolife from different planets to check for similarities in structure. It was common knowledge that the Vong were lacking in materials. The Worldship incident only pushed the issue forward. The whispers that the Alliance, Empire and Chiss should take advantage of it had grown to shouts.
In addition to Wedge, Iella and Jag, Colonel Io Klar of the Empire and Colonel Airer'th from the Chiss were present. Danni gestured to the numbers on the screen behind her as she spoke, "Eighty-seven percent of the samples show signs of weakness. The causes range from age to poor nutrition. The coralskippers and other creations cannot grow properly if they do not receive the correct care. Items such as villips and yammosks require a specific regiment, while simpler life forms like blorash jelly need less care. According to the information gathered from various Shaper complex raids and what Jedi Tahiri Veila has told us, many-Vong created life forms can withstand some variation to their care under the careful watch of a Shaper. This leads to the theory that the number of Shapers is also low. We learned earlier in the war that Warmaster Tsavong Lah had ordered for more Warrior breeding. We don't know for sure, but data indicates that some of the would-be Shapers were transferred out of the class. Death of many members of the class is also possible."
"Does your data show an area of the galaxy where the Vong biolife is healthier?" Iella asked as she leaned forward.
"Various coralskippers hailing from Coruscant and other planets closer to the Core are more viable. The World Brain on Coruscant, however, has caused problems with the some of the material grown there," Danni responded. She keyed up an image comparison of a healthy coralskipper and an unhealthy from Coruscant She pointed out the various structural defects and dying areas.
"Based on the information Ms. Quee has provided us with, we'd like to send back up for Colonel Fel's teams with instructions to press forward right away," Wedge stated. He had seen the report before the meeting and discussed the details with several members of the military and intelligence divisions. "The end result will be a dramatic loss in materials."
"How do you intend to extract the team members?" Colonel Klar asked. "The Empire can't afford to send out troops for rescue missions."
"Colonel Fel has already made the proper arrangements," Wedge responded without elaboration, "In addition; the Chiss have volunteered some of their forces."
"General Fel has offered his fleet," Colonel Airer'th confirmed.
"Aside from the loss of material, what is the purpose of this?" Klar asked with an air of slight arrogance that came from fast promotions and little actual training.
"It provides a viable solution for weakening the Vong at a minimal loss of life and supplies," Jag said simply. "By infiltrating the slave camps, we can do damage on the inside. The fact that the Vong's materials are weakening only benefits us. Is the war going to end on one of these planets? No, but it will increase the chance that we will beat back the Yuuzhan Vong."
"The Empire doesn't-"
"I know for a fact that Gilad Pellaeon fully supports this operation," Iella stated. Danni glanced between her and the Imperial colonel. Iella gave the man a hard look. Danni would have chuckled at the way he avoided her gaze had it been permissible.
"Ms. Quee will forward her report to both the Empire and Chiss," Wedge stated. "Unless there are any questions for her, you are all dismissed. "
Danni shut down the projector she was using and gathered her materials. She hadn't been invited to the first portion of the meeting, not that it mattered to her. Earlier that day she had filed her report about Csilla. She was grateful that project was done. She slipped all of her supplies in her shoulder bag and left the room. She, for once, had a free hour. An hour wasn't enough time for her to work on anything before she was meeting Jacen. He had told her yesterday about the woman he had found on Yavin IV. He wanted to know if she had any information that could help her recovery. Danni hadn't found much, but she wanted to speak with him about it anyway. She was looking forward to meeting with someone not associated with the military.
It was a welcomed break.
Jaina glanced over at Jag from across the table. He was staring at his datapad with a look a frustration. He'd been that way for half an hour. It was, quite frankly, annoying. She couldn't concentrate with stress radiating off him.
"Jag, what's the problem?" she asked, placing the squadron report she was working on down.
He frowned, "I need people crazy enough to land in areas crawling with Vong to rescue team members."
"With their own ships."
"Yes."
Jaina tapped her fingers on the table as an idea popped into her mind. She suggested, "Hire some smugglers."
"Hire them?" he said with skeptical look.
"Call Dad and ask him to call in some favors," Jaina suggested. The Smuggler's Alliance was the perfect solution. Because they weren't technically politically aligned with anyone, it would be a completely neutral party. "Lando and Karrde would know people that could help."
"They're certainly crazy enough," Jag commented. "It'd get Colonel Klar off my back."
"They'll do it," Jaina stated. "I'll go call Lando. I'm sure I can convince him to help."
"Thank you, Jaina," he said with appreciation, and then asked, "Did you get a hold of Luke?"
"Mhm," Jaina said. She had spoken to him that morning about adding Jedi to her squadron. Tycho told her that she could recruit whoever she wanted to fill the missing slots in the Dozen. "Zekk and Lowie are eager to help. They should be here tomorrow. Kyp may be healing quickly, but he's not allowed in the cockpit for another week."
Kyp had woken up a couple days ago. His burns and internal injuries were almost healed. He was already driving the medical staff crazy. They were going to release him last night, but Jaina had requested that he stay another day. She knew he would try too hard too soon and result in reinjuring himself. She'd threatened to pull rank on him as squadron leader, and then he'd pointed out he was a Jedi Master. The argument continued until one of the doctors intervened. Jaina guessed that he had been sick of hearing the argument. Had he left them alone, she knew she would have won. She had almost worn Kyp down.
Jaina stood up from the table. She walked past Jag and placed a hand on his shoulder, "I'll find that number."
He gave her a grateful smile as she walked off. Jaina sat down in front of the comm unit and found Lando's codes. Jag appeared behind her just as Lando answered, dressed in a dark blue long sleeved shirt and hair neatly trimmed. No war was going to keep him from looking his best. His appearance provided a bit of welcomed normalcy. He looked surprised to see her. "Jaina! You look radiant. Good to see you, Jag."
Jaina shook her head in amusement. Lando would never change. "Hello to you, too, Lando. I need a favor, well Jag does."
"And what is that?"
Jag explained the situation in as few words possible. He didn't want to disclose any of the locations in case someone was listening. Lando made few comments, only asking how many ships they would need and how soon.
"So will you do it?" Jaina asked after Jag finished speaking.
Lando flashed her a toothy grin, "I'll call in a few favors."
"Thank you," Jag said gratefully.
"I'll get back with you by the end of the day," Lando said and terminated the call.
Jaina turned in her chair to face Jag. "All taken care of, but don't ask me to deal with them. You'll have to find a way to keep them in line yourself."
Luke surveyed the area where the Jedi Temple once stood. Jagged rocks sat in a rough square. The damuteks and other Vong biolife had eaten away at the stones. It was impressive, really, how the Vong had managed to crush the Grand Temple. That something so old and strong could be destroyed that way tore at Luke's inner being. It destroyed a part of him. He had long ago learned that he couldn't put too much feeling into items and places, but Yavin IV had always held a special place in his heart. It had been his first home after Tatootine. He had founded a Jedi school there to keep the Jedi alive. The Temple suffered damage before, but was repaired. Luke wanted to rebuild it. Yavin IV was so full of life and the Force; it was a perfect world for Jedi. It was an example of redemption. Once, thousands of years ago, the Sith had a powerful presence there. Instead of being a place of the dark, Luke and the Jedi had redeemed the moon. To abandon it felt almost like a betrayal.
Unfortunately, it was going to have to wait. Despite aid from Tenel Ka, to rebuild the Temple was irresponsible. If the Yuuzhan Vong won, there would be no need for a new establishment. The galaxy would be stuck in an era of darkness that saw no hope or escape. Luke did not regret the decision to liberate the moon. Not only had they gained back the system, but also the destruction of a Shaper compound cost the Vong important research and resources. In addition, Jacen and Tahiri had destroyed the seeder, something created from ancient Vong stories.
Luke felt Mara enter the room. She slid an arm around his waist as she followed his gaze to the rocky terrain. She commented after a moment, "Han and Leia are on their way to Bespin."
Luke didn't respond. He didn't need to. Han and Leia had decided that because both of their surviving children, and their grandchildren, were at the GA base, it made sense for them to be there, too. That is, until they were given an assignment or stumbled into a mess as they usually did. Ben was staying with his parents. Mara and Luke were leaving Yavin IV to go to the Hapes Cluster. From there, he would assign the Jedi present where they needed to go. Luke had considered contacting Wedge for information.
The freed captives had been sent to the Bespin base to recover. Only Araneya remained, at Tahiri's request. She argued that she felt she could reach Araneya better than doctors or psychologists could. Besides, finding someone to take on the long-term mental care of a woman with nothing would be next to impossible. Luke consented to allowing Araneya to accompany the Jedi to Hapes. He had been pleasantly surprised by Tahiri's ability to help the woman.
"Booster said something's brewing," Mara said quietly. The Errant Venture was still in orbit, waiting until the last of the Jedi left before traveling to parts unknown. Booster, despite his protests that he didn't work for anyone, tended to appear when needed.
"Did he give any details?"
"Not really, just that Lando roped him into some scheme," she explained. "Karrde and other members of the Smuggler's Alliance are going to be there."
Something significant must be going on for the entire Smuggler's Alliance to come to Lando's call. "Where is Booster heading?"
"He didn't say," Mara said with annoyance. "He's anxious for us to get out of here, though."
"Everyone has reported in. We'll be ready to leave in twenty minutes," Luke said. "Lowbacca and Zekk have already left for Bespin."
"Have you heard from anyone else?"
"Kyle is still helping with the skirmishes on the Outer Rim. It looks like the Vong are losing their hold on some of the planets out there. His last message stated that several planets would fall with some backing. Saba and the Wild Knights returned from Mon Calamari, but are heading out tomorrow to investigate the increased Peace Brigade activity around Duro," Luke began. He was cut off, however, by the arrival of Valin. He had just returned that morning from Yavin VIII.
"Hello, Valin. Did Sannah's changing go smoothly?" Luke asked. Valin had requested to stay and help guard Sannah during her transformation. She had been able to stall the process (for how long?), with the help of the other Jedi, but eventually her biological needs took over.
"Yes," he nodded, somewhat sadly. He and Sannah had been close friends throughout the years.
"Saying goodbye to a friend is never easy," Luke told the boy as he rested a hand on his shoulder. "We're leaving soon. Is your X-Wing loaded into the Shadow?"
"Yes, Master," Valin stated and turned to board the ship.
Luke called out after him, "Valin, go ahead and call your grandfather. I'll never hear the end of it if you don't tell him goodbye."
Valin nodded and darted up the ramp. Mara shook her head next to Luke, "What about Mirax?"
"I'm convinced she encourages her father to harass me for her," Luke stated. "She'll be up there, I'm sure."
"Speaking of the Horns, isn't it time for Jysella to find a master?" Mara asked, already knowing the answer. They had had this discussion before. There simply weren't enough Jedi available.
"Yes, along with many others," Luke replied. "I was thinking about nudging Octa in her direction."
Mara mulled over the suggestion for a few moments before responding, "It would work. She can take Jysella on her assignment to Bimmiel."
The Shadow's engines started up. Mara turned to glare at Luke, "What does he think he is doing? How many times have we told him not to touch the controls of my ship!"
"Around four less times than you told Jaina," Luke commented as he walked towards the ship. He chuckled as Mara sputtered as she stormed past him. He would sit back and let Mara handle this one. One day, Valin would learn, the hard way, not to cross Mara Jade.