“I agree with Commander Kenobi,” Siri said. “It’s vital that the codebreaker remain safe. We can see clearly from up here. Ultimately, we cannot win this battle. I also suggest that you stand by to evacuate the base. We need to save as many Republic soldiers and ships as we can.”
“It’s a little early for surrender.”
“I agree. There are still blows that can be struck. But it’s inevitable,” Obi-Wan said. “We need to cut our losses.”
“You are too cautious, Commander Kenobi. I think we can win this.”
“Commander, we can see things better up here,” Siri said.
“I have a monitor here, too, Commander Tachi. And I don’t have time for this argument. Save your Senator and your scientist and come back to fight.”
Cannonfire blasted, and the controls shook in Obi-Wan’s hands. He and Siri had blundered into the center of a battle between Republic starships and an attack ship they were peppering with fire and trying to disable. Obi-Wan saw cannonfire rip into his hull. Smoke poured from Siri’s fighter. Quickly, they zoomed up and around the battle. When they were through the worst of the fire, they returned to their course and dived down to the planet’s surface.
Obi-Wan heard his comm unit crackling. He must have sustained some damage to the circuitry when the ship was hit.
They saw the escape pod resting in an industrial area. Padme had guided it to a safe landing between gigantic fuel tanks. Obi-Wan let out a low whistle as he landed gingerly next to her. It must have taken nerves of steel to navigate between those tanks. Escape pods weren’t known for their maneuverability.
Siri landed close by and they hurried over to PadmŞ, who was holding a blaster rifle casually at her side. Her clone trooper escort must have landed elsewhere, but the pod had had enough room for Taly to join her.
“Happy to see you,” she said, though her face betrayed her. She was disappointed, too. She’d been hoping for something, Obi-Wan thought. The answer sprang instantly to mind. Anakin.
“Anakin is in command of the air battle at the moment,” he told her.
She smiled briefly. “How close is the Republic fleet?”
“Still hours away,” Siri said.
“Even a codebreaker can’t save this battle, can it?” Taly guessed shrewdly.
Obi-Wan decided not to answer the question. No matter what his doubts, he wouldn’t want to voice them except to the commanding general.
But PadmŞ, too, was too shrewd not to see. She glanced up at the sky. “We should get the codebreaker off planet.”
“Let’s escort you and Taly to safety first,” Siri said. “I think one of us should pilot you out of here.”
“We can return to the command post,” PadmŞ suggested.
Obi-Wan shook his head. “Not safe. We’ll have to get you through enemy lines and to the nearest safe port.” But which of them would do it? He looked over at Siri. They both wanted to stay to fight the battle, but she knew that it would be harder for him to leave his Padawan.
He felt the dark side surge then, a warning so clear he heard it like a shout. A starfighter was streaking toward them. Obi-Wan recognized the red-and-silver starfighter of Magus. He was surrounded by five droid trifighters.
“Take cover!” Obi-Wan yelled.
The laser cannons tore up the ground as they scattered. “We can’t hide behind fuel tanks,” Siri said. “That’s madness. We’ll get blown up.”
Magus came in for another assault. The fire hit the fuel tank, and it exploded in a whoosh that sent them flying through the air. The air was like a flaming wall that hit Obi-Wan like an obstacle. He felt himself falling, and it was like falling through pure fire.
They landed, bruised and shaken, but unhurt. Magus and the trifighters zoomed out and turned, heading for another strike.
“I think it’s time we got out of here,” Obi-Wan said.
CHAPTER 32
Siri and Padme were closest to Siri’s ship. They began to run through the thick black smoke and burning fires. Obi-Wan grabbed Taly and hustled him toward his own ship.
This time Magus bypassed Siri and Padme, coming straight for Taly.
Obi-Wan noticed that a worker had left his servotool kit close by. He reached out a hand - a fusioncutter flew through the air toward him. It was a large one with a big tank, built for special jobs. He grabbed it and timed his response. At the last possible second, he activated the fusioncutter and flung it directly into the spilled fuel. The fuel ignited and the flame shot up just as Magus dived to strafe them again.
Magus had to climb to avoid the fire, and the smoke was good cover. Obi-Wan and Taly leaped into the ARC 170 starfighter and took off after Siri.