[Legacy of the Jedi] - 02(47)

Obi-Wan nodded. “We don’t have to defeat them. We just have to slow them down.”

“They don’t know that we have the codebreaker working, so it’s possible they’re expecting to launch a surprise attack,” Siri said. “That could be an advantage for us. Do you see this small cloud nebula? If Anakin could get his ships to lurk there until the last possible second, when the fleet has already passed him…”

Obi-Wan was already pushing the comm button. He quickly gave Anakin the coordinates of the nebula. “Do you see it?”

“I’ve got it. There’s quite a bit of atmospheric disturbance within it,” Anakin said. “I might lose communication capability temporarily.”

“We’ll have to risk it. Then if you could manage to sneak down the side flank to the rear - that’s where the big gunners are.”

“Got it.”

They watched as the blip that was Anakin’s ship peel off, followed by the rest of the small fleet.

Obi-Wan turned to General Solomahal. “You’ll have to time the countermeasure artillery attack to when Anakin attacks the rear. There will be confusion then. I’d try to hit the lead ship.”

He nodded. His face was grim. “We will do our best, Commander.”

“They are approaching the outer atmosphere of Azure airspace,” Siri said. “There are some civilian ships heading into deep space…” Suddenly one blip flared and disappeared. “They’re firing on civilian ships!”

A sinking feeling hit Obi-Wan. “Where are PadmŞ and Taly? Are they out of range?”

Siri went pale. “They’re on the fleet’s right flank.”

Obi-Wan reached for his comlink, but suddenly Padme’s voice filled the air. “Come in, General. They’re firing on us…. We can’t hold the ship…. “

“Evacuate!” Obi-Wan shouted at her.

“Anakin!” PadmŞ shouted.

The blip that was PadmŞ’s ship flared and disappeared.

“It’s gone,” Siri said. “Padmes gone.”





CHAPTER 31


“No,” Obi-Wan said. “They got to an escape pod. Look.” He pointed to the monitor. A tiny pulse was moving. It could have been space debris, but Obi-Wan knew it was Padme. He could feel it.

“She’s going to land outside the spaceport. We have to help them,” Siri said.

“There are starfighters fueled and waiting in the hangar,” the general said. “We still have the codebreaker working on communications. Keep your comm open and I’ll feed you information.”

They ran to the hangar and leaped into the two starfighters at the head of the line. Nearby pilots were rushing to their ships. Anakin had burst out of the nebula and hit the fleet in the rear with his small squadron. The battle had begun.

Obi-Wan and Siri took off, flying in formation.

“I’ve received a distress call from the planet’s surface,” General Solomahal said, giving them the coordinates. “It’s out where the survival systems for the planet are based - the water conduits, the fuel tanks, the fusion generators. Watch your flank - the fleet is planning to turn at eighty degrees.”

Obi-Wan and Siri executed a diving turn to avoid the fleet. Obi-Wan could hear the chatter of the pilots on the comm. Anakin was flying brilliantly, taking chances that the pilots could not quite believe and inspiring them to try similar feats.

By the end of the Clone Wars, he’ll be a legend, Obi-Wan thought.

The air around the ship suddenly lit up. Obi-Wan felt the thud of cannonfire.

“On your left!” Siri shouted.

He turned and went into a screaming dive. Siri followed.

“Two starfighters have been ordered to break off and follow you,” General Solomahal barked. “They are ordered to shoot you down.” He quickly told Obi-Wan and Siri the angle of attack.

They were able to turn at the last minute and surprise their attackers. Laser cannonfire boomed, and the ships went into spiraling, smoking ruin.

Obi-Wan and Siri peeled off and continued toward their goal. From this angle, they were far enough away to get a clear look at the battle.

His heart sank. He believed in Anakin. He believed in the strength and will of the Republic pilots. But he knew the exact time it would take for the rest of the Republic fleet to arrive. The battle was already lost.

His heart heavy, he contacted General Solomahal. “General, I suggest you give the codebreaker to your best pilot and get it off the spaceport now. We have to risk it. We can’t have the codebreaker fall into Separatist hands.”

“Are you insane, General Kenobi?” The general’s voice boomed out. “That’s our only hedge against disaster!”