Part 32 (1/2)
s.h.i.+gar met her quick gaze. If they shared one thing, it seemed, it was a mistrust of the Mandalorians.
”Fifteen s.h.i.+ps, ” mused Captain Pipalidi, ”including one bulk cruiser... ”
Ax said, ”We have three thousand front-line troops, divided across the remains of three regiments-repulsorlift, heavy weapons, and armored-with two hundred TRA-Nine battle droids. We have shuttles sufficient to land them and support them, but we lost much of our munitions when the s.h.i.+ps carrying them were destroyed by the hexes. ”
”Are those figures accurate?” asked the captain suspiciously.
”I have been ordered to withhold nothing. It is to our benefit, at the moment, not to do so. ”
”In that spirit, I will offer the same. Three thousand five hundred troops, two full regiments. Repulsorlift and armor. Our wings were in the air when their capital s.h.i.+ps were destroyed, so most of the fighters themselves survived. Hangar decks are crowded, though, and refueling options limited. ”
”We have the same problem, ” said Ax. ”Colonel Kalisch sent raiding parties to salvage what they could from the infected vessels, but none returned. One came back infected. We destroyed it. ”
”We noticed. Our intelligence staff is working double s.h.i.+fts, watching everything around the planet. Not helped, of course, by the fact that we were short-staffed to begin with. ”
The captain's tension visibly eased as she and Ax exchanged details of losses and setbacks. s.h.i.+gar had heard how battle lines could be blurred on a war's b.l.o.o.d.y front. This was the first time he had seen it in action. Perhaps Stryver's unlikely plan had some merit after all.
Ula broke into the rapid exchange of intelligence.
”Every minute we stand around chatting, ” he said, ”Xandret's droids build more of themselves, more factories, more who knows what? If we're going to stop them, we have to start making solid plans, and fast. ”
”Agreed, ” said Master Satele. ”Our number one priority is stopping the droids from getting more than a toehold in orbit. While their factories are confined to the surface of the planet, it will be possible to defeat them. ”
”A whole planet with just fifteen s.h.i.+ps?” asked one of the captain's senior officers. ”And just one bulk cruiser?” The hard-skinned major shook his head. ”No matter how you divide it up, it's impossible. ”
”Only if we tell ourselves it is, ” said s.h.i.+gar. ”Stryver's data clearly showed how the hexes radiated outward from a central point-the main hot spot your s.h.i.+ps bombarded, ” he added with a nod to Ax. ”I think it's safe to a.s.sume that this was where Xandret and the others founded the colony's capital. Destroying it didn't take out the hexes' coordinating intelligence, but must have hurt it enough to move elsewhere. If we look for the place that's growing the fastest, that'll be the place to hit. ”
”We have identified two such locations, ” said Captain Pipalidi. A hologram flickered to life between them. ”Here and here, ” she said, indicating one spot at the equator and another at the south pole. ”Perhaps the hexes have decided not to put all their eggs in one basket, this time. ”
s.h.i.+gar studied the image. The site on the equator was in the middle of a vast sea of lava, dotted with islands of solid stone. The polar site was much more stable. Straight lines radiated from it in all directions, leading to other spots elsewhere.
”That's a factory, ” he said, pointing at the pole. ”Perhaps the master factory, where everything else originates. And that's the brain, ” he said, transferring his finger to the equator.
”How can you possibly know that?” asked Ax.
”Because factories need physical means to get things in and out. Resources, power, finished droids. That's what these are. ” He followed one line from point to point. ”Roads or railways of some kind. Or power cables. ”
”And brains don't need anything of the sort, ” she said, nodding. ”It can just sit there, isolated in the middle of that mess, sending orders out by radio. ”
”I think you're right, s.h.i.+gar. ” Master Satele moved around the globe, rubbing her chin. ”Teams striking both at once, plus targeted bombardment at the secondary locations, should be enough to slow the hexes' growth. ”
”Enough to stop it, perhaps, ”said Captain Pipalidi, ”until reinforcements arrive. ”
There was an uncomfortable silence. s.h.i.+gar knew as well as anyone that, once the threat of the planet was reduced to zero, the alliance would break. This moment of solidarity was both fragile and temporary. No one had forgotten that the Sith and the Jedi, the Empire and the Republic, were anything other than mortal enemies.
”Let's worry about reinforcements when they get here, ” Ula said. ”Captain Pipalidi, would you be willing to sketch out a basic plan now, to pa.s.s on to Darth Chratis and Colonel Kalisch for their opinion? I suggest dividing resources evenly over all tactical objectives, to ensure that both parties feel that they are included but not exploited, plus double the usual number of commanding officers to each platoon.
Discipline must be maintained. We don't want the troops shooting one another at a critical moment. ”
”Naturally not, ” said the captain with a bluish cast to her crest. s.h.i.+gar didn't know what that meant. Irony, perhaps.
s.h.i.+gar caught another glance from the young Sith's direction-bored, this time, and again he sympathized. Their duel in the Hutts' security air lock felt a lifetime ago. His lightsaber hand itched, but he kept it carefully limp at his side.
The door to the conference room hissed open. Larin was taken by surprise. She had long ago given up trying to read the lips of the people inside. On seeing a major, she automatically stood to attention.
”Private Hetchkee, a moment, ” said the st.u.r.dy Rellarin. ”You, too, Moxla. ”
Larin followed Hetchkee and the major into the conference room. The air seemed much denser than normal, as was always the case during long planning sessions. A current projection of the planet hung in the center of the room, dashed and dotted with notations in yellow and green. People huddled around it, making suggestions. The Sith girl was one of them.
Both s.h.i.+gar and Ula looked up as Larin entered, but it was the captain who spoke.
”We're sending strike teams to two locations, ” she said in a voice so deep it hurt Larin's breastbone. One long finger stabbed at the globe. ”Here, and here. We need people familiar with the hexes to guide each team. Both your names have been mentioned for the a.s.sault on the master factory. Private Hetchkee, your detail was with the envoy, under the authority of Supreme Commander Stantorrs. I don't outrank him, of course, but I can promote you above the rank required for an escort. No one would dream of wasting a lieutenant on such a detail, and we're short of officers. Will you accept this a.s.signment?”
”Yes, sir. ” Hetchkee snap-saluted, looking like he was equal parts delighted and terrified. This was not only the fastest leap up the chain of command imaginable, but it could also be the briefest.
”And what about you, Moxla?”
”Forgive me, sir, but I have a history-”
”So I'm told. I don't care what happened back then. You're the closest thing we have to special forces now, so I'd be insane not to use you. All that matters is that you'll follow orders-and be followed in turn, by anyone who has any doubts. Do you think you can manage that?”
Her face was burning. In the service again! She didn't know whether to kill s.h.i.+gar or kiss him.
”Yes, sir. I do. I will. ”
”Good. Major Cha, take them to the quartermaster and have them kitted out. I want them briefed and ready for action within the hour. ”
”Yes, sir. ”
The Rellarin saluted and guided them toward the door. Larin felt as though she were walking through a weightless vacuum-not floating, exactly, but cut loose from everything. One touch, and she could tumble out of control.
The major chuckled once the door was shut behind them. ”You should see your faces, ” he said. ”Well, I can't really see yours, Hetchkee, but I can imagine. ”
”Are we really going to attack the planet, sir?”
”You bet you are. Are you up to it?”
”I'll do my best, sir. ”
”That's all we can ask of you. What we expect is a different story. ”
In no time at all they reached the Commenors expansive technical storeroom. Larin gazed hungrily at row after row of clean armor sh.e.l.ls, up-to-date weapons, and apparently endless cases of ammunition. She knew this wasn't a big s.h.i.+p, so the stores weren't as extensive as she imagined, but it was so much more than she had seen in a long time. She almost wept.
”Here we are. Sergeant, these two new lieutenants find themselves sorely underprovisioned. Make sure they're equipped with everything they need, and do it on the double. ”
”Yes, Major Cha. ”
The swarthy sergeant took charge of Larin and led her into paradise.
”What about the Mandalorian?” Ax asked when the stunned troopers were gone. ”What role does he play in all this?”