Star Wars - The Han Solo Trilogy - Hutt Gambit, page 24
With a graceful wave of her hand, Xaverri suddenly made the lights in the auditorium flicker, then, without warning, the air was filled with Kayven whistlers. The trick was part of her act, but even Han, who was expecting it, had trouble not ducking when one of the vicious flying creatures swooped directly at his head.
The audience of smugglers yelled and ducked, then when Xaverri made the whistlers disappear with a second wave of her hand, they broke into spontaneous applause.
Mako led the crowd in clapping and stomping his feet in appreciation. Xaverri stood there, smiling serenely, but not taking a bow.
Shes good, guys, Mako said. And just for us, Xaverri is going to create her masterpiece. When weve got the big Imp ships here, wilere we want them-he pointed to the spot again-Xaverri is going to create the illusion that a really big fleet is coming at the Imps from the direction of Nal Hutta. Then, when the Imp ships turn to fire their forward guns at this phantom fleet, thats when well hit era in the flank and from the rear with everything weve got!
Cheering broke out from the crowd.
Han stepped forward when the noise died down. Just to let you know, Captain Renthal and her big ships will be waiting with Mako and the Main Strike Element. Captain Renthal---he turned and extended a hand to her where she sat in the front row, a big, squarish woman with pale skin and close-cropped red-and-gold-striped hair-please stand up.
The smugglers clapped for her, too, which was surpris-ing, because some of them had undoubtedly run afoul of Rentbal Fist or other ships in her pirate fleet.
Captain Renthal, your big ships will have to clear the path for your Y-wings, and our fighters and strike ships. Any of the smaller Imp cruisers between our force and the flanks of those Capital-class ships will be your target. Your heavy turbolasers and proton torpedoes must knock them out. We cant make a run on heavy cruisers if were having to dodge fire from too many directions at once, Mako said, for the benefit of the audience. He and Han had already gone over every part of the battle plan with Renthal many times.
Drea Renthal nodded. Ill do my part, she said, in a clear, strong alto. I was hired to keep the Imps from get-ting near Nal Hutta. After seeing your battle plan, I agree that this is the best way to accomplish that. She turned to face the smugglers. So you can count on me and my fleet to fight with you all the way!
More cheers. Renthal pumped her fist in the air, and the crowd went wild.
Okay, Han continued when the noise had died down a bit, the fighters without missiles or torpedoes will serve as escorts. You guys have got to keep those TIEs off us while we make our run. The Corellian waved at the remainder of the smugglers. The rest of us will go in and target one or two of the heavy cruisers. When the time comes, Mako will give you your orders. Well have to get in as close as we can to their rear and then let them have it with a concen-trated volley right into the engines. Dont hold back, let them have every bit of firepower youve got!
Cheers broke out again from the crowd. Obviously, the realization that theyd have help from Xaverris illusion, and a well-armed pirate fleet, had lifted the smugglers spirits.
Okay, fellow sentients, Mako said, one more thing. If what were tryin for here works, you clear out fast! Those cruisers make a pretty big explosion. You dont want to get caught in it, right?
Right! they roared.
And... Mako finished up, if this doesnt work . . . He shrugged. Well, well just have to keep trying. Its not like we can just give up and go away.
Tile crowd regarded him, alert but sobered by his final words.
Hah stepped back up to the podlure. Okay, he said. Thats the plan. Well go over it until youve got it down pat. Any questions?
To Hans amazement, over the next several days, Xaverri and Salla became the best of friends. He and Mako were busy staging repeated battle drills for their p ilots and crews on the Nar Shaddaa defense squadron, so he didnt have much time to hang out at Shugs spacebarn, but every time he did go there, he found Salla and Xaverri working to-gether on creating the illusionists masterpiece.
Itll only be good for about a two- or three-minute dis-traction, Solo, Xaverri warned. Theyre going to see these ships swooping at them, real close, and theyre going to see data that corresponds to their visual sightings appear on their instrument panels. But I want these ships to appear close, so their reaction will be to turn all their vessels to bring their forward guns into play. That makes them vul-nerable to your flank attack.
Xaverri took a sip from a cup of stim-tea Han had brewed for Shug, Salla, Chexvie, Jarik, and the other techni-cian volunteers who were working on making Xaverris illu-sion a reality. But these ships are going to appear such a threat because theyre going to be close. Within a couple of minutes, when the Imps realize that none of them has been hit by the blasts theyre seeing emanate from those ships, theyll realize its a fake.
Hah nodded. A minute or three is all we can ask for, Xaverri. Well be really grateful for that diversion. Weve contacted the pirate captain the Hutts hired. Drea Renthal. Her flagship, Renthal Fist, is gonna be hiding behind Nar Shaddaa-that is, on the Nal Hutta side of the moon- along with the rest of her fleet. When those Capital-class ships come swinging around the moon, then turn to face your filusionary fleet, she and Mako are going to hit them hard.
Jarik Solo wiped tiredly at his dirty face with an even filthier hand. Hah, whats the strength of that mere fleet? Are they gonna be much help?
Hah nodded. Yeah, Jarik. Renthal Fist is a Corellian corvette. Shes heavily modified, and heavily armed. Even has proton torpedo launchers in the front. Only problem is, they dont have many torpedoes. Renthal cant afford to miss.
How many other ships? Xaverri wanted to know. Renthal also has a bulk freighter, Golden Dreams, thats been converted to carry fighters. SoroSuub medium transport. Big ship. Not much shielding, though. Shell launch her Z-95 Headhunters, then hang back, letting Renthal Fist carry the attack. Then theres the Too Late Now and the Minestra. Too Late Now is a captured Imp patrol craft. Renthal replaced one of the laser turrets with an ion cannon, so hopefully she can knock out some of those bulk cruisers. Minestra is a Rendili Stardrive light corvette. Nice ship, modified so she has concussion missiles and ion cannons to go with her laser turrets.
That sounds like a pretty good force to me, Xaverri said. Of course, I barely know the difference between an ion cannon and a concussion missile.
When I first started smuggling, I barely did, too, Salla said with a laugh. But when the Imp patrols start shooting at you with em, you find yourself getting rea] knowledge-able real fast.
The two women smiled at each other. Han still couldnt get over how quickly theyd become friends. To tell the truth, he was a bit jealous. In many ways, Salla and Xaverri seemed closer to each other than either woman had ever been to him. He wondered whether theyd ever talked to each other about him. Compared notes, maybe?
The thought made his face redden. Jarik provided a wel-come distraction. Hey, Han. . . can I talk to you a min-ute?
Hah gulped tile last of his stim-tea and stood up. Sure, Jarik. Want to go into Shugs office so we can be out of the way?
Yeah, the youth said. If we try to talk here, someone
will run over us with an anti-grav lifter or something
The spacebarn was a hive of activity. Everywhere smug-glers were fixing up their ships, in some cases modifying them, trying to squeeze extra speed out of their engines, or adding an extra quad laser or missfie launcher.
Han and Jarik walked by Sallas Rimrunner, and waved
to Shug when he raised his face shield to wipe his sweating
face. Hah stopped to cup his hands around his mouth and
shouted up at the master mechanic. Looks good, Shug
You and Salla are sure gonna give those Imps a rude sur-
prise
Whenever they werent working on helping Xaverri cre-ate her master illusion, Salla and Shug, with Rik Duels help, had been modifying Rimrunner, installing a pair of camouflaged concussion missile launchers in the stern. Sallas smuggling ship was a CorelliSpace Gymsnor-4-class light freighter and, like virtually every smuggling ship in the business, was heavily modified. The ship looked rather like a flying wing or if you wanted to be insulting and gain a punch in the nose from Salla-a mynock. Rimrunner was a fast, gile ship, and Salla was an excellent pilot. Han was counting heavily on her during the coming battle.
He knew that Salla would be in a much better position to do serious damage to the Imperial ships than he would. The Br/a was a decent little ship, but nowhere near as fast as the Millennium Falcon or the Rimrunner. She was more lightly armed, too.
When Han and Jarik reached Shugs office, they had to clear several odds and ends of greasy equipment off the chairs before they could sit down. Once they were comfort-able, Hah sighed. Glad you wanted to have a talk, kid. This is the first time Ive sat down all day, seems like. Organizing this battle has kept me and Mako hopping.
Yeah, Ive been busy, too, Jarik said. When I wasnt busy helping the Lady Xaverri, Ive been helping Chewie with the Bria, or Shug with the Rimrunner.
Shug tells me youre gettin to be a pretty good me-chanic, Jarik, Han said. And youre becoming a decent pilot and gunner. Im going to be glad to have you flying with me as a gunner. Chewies good, but two gunners are more than twice as good as one.
Hah . . . thats . . . thats what I wanted to talk to you about. Jariks handsome young features were shad-owed. I . . . Ive never been in a battle before. He swal-lowed. Last night, I fell asleep while I was cleaning carbon scoring off the Bria, and I . . . I had this dream. Night-mare, really.
Yeah? What about?
I dreamed we were fighting the Imperials, and---he swallowed-Han . . . we got blown up. I had a TIE in my sights, and I . . . I froze. I didnt shoot. And then I saw the streak of green from the laser blast coming straight at me, and there was nothing I could (b). I dreamed that I ... died.
Jariks face worked. He shivered. Hah . . . Im scared. I dont know if Ive got what it takes. What if I mess up, and get us all killed, the way I did in my dream?
Jarik, Han said, if you werent scared, Id be worried about you. The first time I went into real combat, as a TIE pilot, I was so scared I nearly upchucked in my helmet. Fortunately, I was already strapped in my cockpit, in vac-uum, so I knew that if I did that, Id choke and die. So I managed to hold it back. Then someone shot at me, and without even thinkin about it, I found myself shootin back. The training just . . . took over.
Really? Jarik looked as though he didnt know whether to find Hans story reassuring or not. But, Han. . . ev-eryone says youre brave. Its the first thing they say about you---Hes got courage! Nobody ever told me I had cour-age. What if Im a coward? How can I risk letting you all down?
Han gave the youth a long, measuring look. Jarik, youre facin something that we all have to face. Were not citizens here on Nar Shaddaa. We live outside the law, and thats dangerous, by definition. Cowards dont make it here on Nar Shaddaa. They get eaten alive.
Well, yeah, I can handle myself with a vibroblade or in a fistfight, Jarik allowed. But thats not the same thing as just being blown to atoms. Boom, and youre history.
Kid, Ive watched you, and I can only tell you that I think youve got what it takes. Yeah, people do freeze some-times in battle. But thats why Mako and I have been gettin everyone out in their ships for all these battle drills.
Han shrugged. We did the same thing when I was with the Imps. You drill and you drill, and the reason for that is that anyone can freeze when faced with rea] combat. Even combat vets. But if you know the drill cold, chances are that even if your brain freezes, your hands and body wont. Theyll go on autopilot, keep on doing what youve been drilled to do, even though your mind aint giving em in-structions for a few seconds.
But then, if youve drilled well, and know your stuff cold-and, kid, you know your stuff, Ive watched you- then your brain is gonna click back in. The fear will still be there, but youll be able to work past it, around it. It wont slow you down anymore. Youll just keep on doing what you gotta do. And youll be all right.
Jarik wet his lips. But . . . what if I dont? Maybe you should get another gunner, Han. Id rather die than let you down.
If you want me to, I will, kid, Hah said. But Id rather have you. I know you, we work well together. Weve drilled together. But its your decision. Just let me know, okay?
The youth nodded. Thanks. Ill . . . think . . . about it.
Han gave him a pat on the shoulder as he walked by.
Get some sleep, kid. Were all gettin a little worn down.
Jarik gave the Corellian a wan smile. Okay, Han.
Lando Calrissian hated getting dirty, but he was growing accustomed to it. Readying the Millennium Falcon for seri-ous combat was a grimy, greasy job, but somebody had to do it. Last week, Shug had helped him find and install a new gun turret on the Falcons starboard side, aft of the cockpit, just above the boarding ramp. But there was still a lot to do. Han, Chewie, and Salla would have helped him, he knew that, but they were tied up either helping Xaverri prepare her holo-illusion, or fixing up their own ships.
Lando gathered that Xaverri and Hah were a thing of the past. As he used a hydrospanner to tighten up the bolts on the new quad laser mou nting, the young gambler found himself thinking about Xaverri. She was certainly a very fine woman, intelligent, attractive, sharp dresser, good sense of humor all qualities Lando found irresistible. He wondered whether shed have any interest in taking up with him where she and the Corellian had left off. It was obvious that she liked rogues and scoundrels, or shed never have had a relationship with the Corellian.
Maybe I should try growing a mustache, Lando thought. Might give me a . . . rakish . . . air. The corners of the gamblers mouth curved upward. Perhaps Xaverri would be interested in traveling with him, when this was all over.
Lando was considering going back to the Oseon system. He had a couple of moneymaking schemes he wanted to try. And he needed to sharpen his already considerable sabacc skills. There was a big high-stakes sabacc champion-ship scheduled to be played on Bespins Cloud City in about six months. Lando very much wanted to play in that championship. But hed need to raise a considerable stake to qualify, and the easiest, quickest way to do that was to head back for the Oseon. Things were looser there . . .
And it would be very aeeable, Lando decided, to have a lovely lady traveling companion.
Only problem was . . . was Xaverri still in love with Han? And how would Han feel about having his former girlfriend take up with his best buddy?
Well, Lando amended, his best human buddy. Hafts best friend was indubitably Chewbacca . . .
Immersed in fantasies of himself and Xaverri wining and dining in the finest resorts of the Oseon system, Lando managed to whack the knuckles of his other hand with the hydrospanner. Cursing, he started to suck the injured dig-its, but his hand was so dirty, he desisted.
Master? Vuffi Raa said, emerging from beneath the Falcons belly. The little droid carried various tools in each of his five-armed, tentacle-digited limbs. Its single red eye stared up at Lando. Master, what happened?
Still wishing he could suck his injured kmuckle, Lando gritted, Vuffi Raa, how many times have I told you not to call me Master!
Five hundred and sixty-two times, Master, replied the little droid promptly.
Lando snarled. I just whacked my knuckle, thats all, you little junkheap. Ill be all right. Lets get back to work. We have to have the Falcon spaceworthy by tonight. Makos calling for another drill.
Very well, Vuffi Raa said.
Hey, Vuffi Raa? Lando called.
Already on his way back under the ship, the little droid paused. Yes, Master?
Lando let the title slide this time. Are you sure youre going to be okay piloting the Falcon during this battle?
It will strain my circuitry, Master, because, as you know, I am programmed not to cause harm to living- especially sentient beings. However, since you will be the one doing the shooting, I believe I can manage to fly. Just dont order me to ram another vessel. Then I will be unable to comply.
I should hope not! Lando exclaimed. All right, little vacuum cleaner, back to work.
Yes, Master.
Han and Mako had told almost no one the actual time that Greelanx was planning to attack. Some of the smuggler High Command knew that Han and Mako knew the tim-ing of the operation, but they accepted the two ex-Imperi-als decision that it would be better for most of the smugglers not to know.
Lando, Shug, Salla, Rik Duel, Blue, and Jarik . . . all of them were aware that one of the times they went out on a drill, it would wind up being the real thing. The other smugglers did not know.
Han and Mako had to be careful in drilling their troops. They didnt want the smugglers to get bored and lax, which might happen if they drilled too much. On the other hand, they knew that their smuggler squadron would need lots of practice. The key to having a fighting chance to defeat the Imperial fleet was for the smugglers to stick with the battle plan Mako and Han had devised.
The smugglers of Nar Shaddaa were all rugged individu-alists, unused to doing anything as part of a large, orches-trated group. Its like tryin to herd vro-cats, Han told Xaverri wearily. They keep thinkin they know better, and they want to question every blasted decision we make. What a pain in the rear!
Yes, but the last time you called a formation drill, Xaverri pointed out, trying to encourage him, they got into position and made their runs in one-third of the time it took them to do it the first time.
Yeah, Han agreed with a noticeable lack of enthusi-asm. He sighed. But its giving me gray hairs, honey.
She grinned, and pretended to inspect his scalp. His hair was still very short from his visit to Admiral Greelanx. Nope, she announced, after a minute, I dont see any.
He grinned back at her tiredly. Well, I got gray hairs growin internally, then.
She patted his hand. Dont worry, Solo. Well get through this.
I hope so, he said. And, Xaverri, honey?
Yes?
I want to thank you for comin tiere to help us. Without you, we wouldnt have a chance.
