Star Wars The Old Republic Fatal Allianc - By Sean Williams Page 0,90

the data on to Colonel Gurin?”

“He’s seeing exactly what we’re seeing, unless he’s admiring the view elsewhere.”

The galaxy formed a beautiful pinwheel backdrop as Satele Shan made her first broadcast to the people of Sebaddon.

“My name is Grand Master Satele Shan,” she said, broadcasting on all frequencies, since most commonly used bands were clogged by radiation from the black hole. “I come not in the name of the Republic, but on behalf of the upholders of peace and justice across the galaxy.”

“What’s that all about?” asked Hetchkee.

“It’s Jedi double talk,” said Larin. “She doesn’t want the Sebaddonites to think they’re about to be invaded.”

“Even though she’s riding at the head of a fleet of Republic warships?”

“Even so.”

Shigar raised a hand for silence. No one had replied, so Master Satele was trying again.

“We have reason to believe that a diplomatic mission sent from Sebaddon was intercepted before it could reach its destination. We are not responsible for its destruction but I wish to convey to you our sin-cerest regrets and to share with you the data we have collected regarding this unfortunate incident.”

“More activity,” said Jet. “Those hot spots are getting really hot.”

“Are you sure they’re not volcanoes?” asked Larin.

He didn’t reply, and neither did the people of Sebaddon to Satele Shan’s last message.

“They could be volcanoes,” said Ula, unwilling to dismiss any suggestion Larin made, even one intended as a joke. “It would make sense to tap into geothermal power on a world like this. If they’ve found a way to store and release that power, that could be what we’re seeing here.”

“Or they could be launch sites,” said Jet.

“If they’re sending up a welcoming party, why wouldn’t they say so?”

“It might not be the sort of welcoming party you’re thinking of.”

“I have come to speak with Lema Xandret,” the Grand Master tried a third time. “I have reason to believe that she might be your leader.”

At last something broke the silence from the planet. A woman’s voice came over the airwaves, crackling faintly with interference.

“We have no leader.”

“Very well,” said Master Satele, “but am I speaking to Lema now?”

“We ask only to be left alone.”

“You have nothing to fear from us. I swear it. We have come to talk, and to offer you protection if you need it. You are under no obligation to offer anything in return.”

“We do not recognize your authority.”

Ula’s skin crawled. “That’s what the hexes said. She sounds just like them.”

Shigar was nodding. “This must be Xandret. The hexes share her voice and her philosophies because she was the one who made them.”

“We have no wish to impose any kind of authority upon you,” Master Satele was saying.

“We ask only to be left alone,” Xandret repeated.

“Those hot spots are about ready to erupt,” said Jet in ominous tones.

“Give me the comm,” Shigar said. “Master, I don’t think talking is going to work. She’s as stubborn as her droids. I suggest finding another approach.”

The Grand Master was already talking: “Perhaps I could speak with you face-to-face. That might help us reach an understanding. Just me and my Padawan, in a place of your choosing. The last thing I want is for you or your leaders to feel threatened or intimidated—”

“We have no leader!” Xandret shouted. “We do not recognize your authority!”

“Here it comes,” said Jet, calling up in the viewscreen several bright flashes from the surface of the world. “They look like missiles to anyone else?”

Ula peered closely at the image. His knowledge of military hardware was patchy, but the rapidly rising dots did have a lethal air. For a start, they moved quickly, accelerating many times faster than most crewed ships would risk in atmosphere. There were eight of them, long and sleek. They spiraled like fireworks as they rose, presenting a much more difficult target to the ships above.

The Auriga Fire lurched underneath him, responding to telemetry from the Corellia. As one, all fifteen ships changed course in response to the rising threat.

“There’s your answer,” said Larin. “Someone is definitely taking this seriously.”

“Fine,” said Jet, “but I’m not slaving my ship to anyone while it’s under fire.”

“Wait,” said Shigar, but it was too late. Jet had already broken the short-lived connection between his ship and those of the Republic. With a flash of its repulsors, the Auriga Fire peeled away from Second Company and accelerated to a higher orbit.

Behind them, the ships of the Republic adopted battle formation, with the Corellia in the center and support vessels in a crisp tetrahedron around it. While