[Chapter Eleven]
The latest probe message revealed that Blood Shard's surveillance was primed for telepathy, though range and overall effectiveness were foggy. Probe cameras had recorded the mercenaries' attack. Anyone could guess whether the battle was an approximate trade in lives, a minor victory, or futile sacrifice.
Leia stood at the frigate's main viewport to watch the fleet gather. Every spacecraft played a role in the next battle. The Alliance's heroes and best minds had worked together to account for all conceivable angles. The Alderaanian princess, however, wrestled with dread. Can our scientists really develop technology to scramble telepathy? We could give away our entire plan by silently thinking.
Several alerts sounded at once. Her comlink went off, a deck alarm flashed and blared, and an officer rushed past. "Ms. Organa. An emergency meeting. We're in the red." Off-duty people stopped to glance around, worried, then jogged to their stations.
"The time comes to commence," Mon Mothma said as a last wave of officers, pilots, and foot-soldiers flooded into the room. Luke, Han, Leia, and Chewie sat together. "Blood Shard has moved to Coruscant." Chatter and gasps filled the air. Mothma raised her hand to signal for silence. "Your tactics and assignments remain much the same, but other conditions are changed. The price of failure may mean billions of innocent lives, depending on Vader's motives."
Admiral Ackbar took over. "The dreadnaught's defense has become further redundant. Along with its own built-in shields, it's also protected by three shield generators on Coruscant. These generators must be deactivated, if any attack is to be attempted. Once the shields are down, our cruisers will create a perimeter while fighters close in and storm the structure. Luke Skywalker, whose piloting skills proved crucial at Yavin, has volunteered to lead the wing squadron."
"That was before, when we were supposed to be fighting in deep space," Han muttered. "Think you can handle the new ball game, O Holy Knight?"
Luke took a deep breath and kept his gaze on Ackbar, ignoring the question. Leia massaged his back with her fingertips.
Ackbar nodded to General Nadine, who took the alien's spot next to the display. "The Empire - the true Empire - quarantined Coruscant too late after the splinter faction's arrival." The hologram zoomed out and Star Destroyers became visible. Data streams noted above-average debris; Leia wondered if a Destroyer had recently met its end. "We share a common goal with the Emperor in destroying Darth Vader and the splinter faction, but we presumably fight both sides once we enter Coruscanti space. We have stolen an Imperial shuttle. Disguised as a cargo ship, and using a secret Imperial Code, a strike team will land planetside and split into three groups."
There was a pause for observers to absorb the information, broken when Han beckoned to himself. "I volunteer to captain the shuttle and lead a team on the ground." Mothma, Ackbar, and Nadine held a hushed discussion.
"Are you sure you're up to this?" Leia asked.
Han smiled. "I'm sure I'd better be. Does anyone else have our experience against storm troopers? That's a rhetorical question. The four of us belong on the front lines."
Mothma looked to Han and nodded. "Very well."
~ ~ ~
The fleet would reach Coruscant space at 2300 galactic standard, eight hours from now. Leia was enlisted to lead the second strike team, which meant her combat was destined to take place in a cityscape at night.
She lay in bed, contemplating the future, her thoughts interrupted occasionally by Threepio's outbursts from the adjoining room. Hardly a productive way to prepare for war. She shut her eyes, stretched her arms, and promised herself that she only needed to snooze.
Two men stood far away on the crest of a sand dune. They waved to her and called her name, their excitement visible even from this distance. She ran toward them, elated at the imminent reunion. But they sank to the horizon. The ground abruptly split between her feet and parted wide. She fell and grabbed at one edge, but curtains of sand pushed her down into darkness.
She sat up. A knock came at her bedroom door.
Luke had turned and begun to step away, but she grabbed his shoulder. "Drifted off. Sorry if I kept you waiting."
"I wanted to check on you," He said. "I sensed your emotions way across the ship. They ate away at me, made it hard to focus on anything else."