Remnant: Force Heretic I Read Online Free PDF Page B

Solo’s Twin Suns Squadron was a sure bet for the mission—and if she was involved, Jag Fel wouldn’t be far away. Together they would keep the military side of the mission covered, and possibly more than that: he was sure Sien Sovv wouldn’t mind applying a little force to some of the more unruly sectors of the galaxy.
    “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a line of beings wanting to see me.”
    “We thank you for your time,” Luke said, taking his wife’s hand as she rose from the chair. “As well as your cooperation. May the Force guide us all.”
    “To peace,” Releqy A’Kla said, standing with the others.
    “To peace,” Omas echoed wholeheartedly as they filed out of the room. He knew that only time would blunt the teeth of the Corellian sand panthers in the ranks of the Senate, the Defense Force, and the Jedi. Whatever LukeSkywalker had up his sleeve, Omas only hoped he could give him enough time to bring it into effect before those sand panthers gathered outside his office door, hungry for
his
blood.
    From space, the ocean world Mon Calamari shone a brilliant, peaceful blue. Under a sky that glinted like ice, curving cloud patterns traced words only stars could understand. All but the keenest of eyes would fail to see the coral outcrops, marshy islands, and floating cities that were scattered across the planet’s often turbulent seas. But they were there: the provisional capital of the newly formed Galactic Alliance and birthplace of two intelligent species was called home by more than twenty-seven billion people, including the legendary Admiral Ackbar and Jedi Master Cilghal. From up on high it was impossible to appreciate the hard times Mon Calamari had seen under the resurrected clone of Emperor Palpatine and the renegade Admiral Daala—hard times that the inhabitants of the planet could well see again before this war with the Yuuzhan Vong was over.
    That’s the beauty of an ocean world
, Jaina Solo thought as she guided her X-wing down to the port city Hikahi.
It shows no scars.
    “XJ-Three-Twenty-three, you’re clear to dock,” came the distinctive Mon Calamari voice. “Proceed to Bay DA-Forty-two.”
    She gritted her teeth as blast scoring on the fuselage of her X-wing caught the atmosphere on reentry, provoking a violent shudder that made her R2 unit squawk in alarm.
    Moments later, as the X-wing glided in toward the docking bays, the droid tootled a short series of beeps and blips. She glanced at her craft’s translator and smiled at her R2’s message.
    “No, I’m sure Mon Cal’s high salinity levels won’t be too good for your electronics,” she said. “But it really shouldn’t be too much of a problem, Cappie. I didn’t bring you here to go swimming.”
    Kyp Durron met her when she landed. Her former squadron leader looked tired and drawn, seemingly much older than when she’d last seen him a couple of weeks earlier.
    “Nice to see you, Colonel,” he said.
    “Sorry I’m late,” she said, tugging off her flight helmet and slipping it under an arm. “There were delays making sure Twin Suns was adequately berthed. Did I miss the meeting?”
    “Afraid so,” he said as they walked together from the docking bays. “But that’s okay. I get the feeling that everything’s being decided behind the scenes. Gathering us together was just a formality—a way of reminding us that there’s a bigger picture. You know?”
    Jaina nodded absently, only half listening.
    “Is Tahiri here?” she asked after a few paces.
    Kyp looked at her, his brow wrinkling. “No. Why?”
    She shrugged as she continued walking, not meeting his eyes. She didn’t want him to see how deep her concern ran. “It’s probably nothing,” she lied. “She left a message for me for when I docked at
Ralroost.
She said she wanted to talk to me as soon as I arrived. She sounded …”
    Kyp waited for her to continue, but when she didn’t he asked, “What, Jaina? What did she say?”
    Jaina struggled to