>>5509041>>5509049>>5509065>>5509075>>5509078>>5509083>>5509084>>5509156>>5509160>>5509174>At the time of the cutoff, the emerging vote to win was for Farren to go it solo.>>Kessel, Kessel System>>Kessel System, Outer Rim Territories (T-10)The <span class="mu-i">Albatross</span> drops out of hyperspace, running silent and passive as it slips into the gravity well of the Garrison Moon. The E-9 has only a fraction of the stealth capabilities compared to the <span class="mu-i">Boss Bantha</span>, but Elba works a little miracle with the reactor and main propulsions. There’s only enough power for life support and RCS thrusters, but at the first sight of trouble, the ship can go to full burn within a handful of seconds, and hyperspace in less than a minute.
“Standby for course correction,” mutters Suzel every so often. “Standby…”
Beads of sweat fleck the nagai’s forehead. His mouth is twisted into a thin grimace. The flight path is visibly displayed on the HUD as both a line and a series of windows he has to guide the ship through. Deceptively easy, but it is a balancing act – maintaining enough speed to avoid to avoid being pulled into the atmosphere, and acting slow enough to pass as a bit of space debris to any sensors.
From his station towards the rear of the cockpit, S-19 chirps a warning.
“Translation: adjust your heading by zero-point-two-five degrees,” translates HK-82.
He does so. It is a small adjustment, but the entire ship seems to lurch as the thrusters fire a quick burst. The inertial dampeners work only hard enough to prevent any fatal injuries. Ceyla stumbles into Elba, who grunts indignantly and waves off a profuse apology. Trykov grunts, gripping the armrests of his seat with a white-knuckled grip. Even you aren’t completely immune – you can’t help but sway from one side to another.
Deep breaths.
Deep…deep, deep breaths.
…you’re only about to do one of the most dangerous missions you’ve ever undertaken as a Jedi Shadow.
It was one thing to infiltrate Amagi and kickoff a violent slave insurrection to rescue Master Aure and Kristen.
It was one thing to slip onto Kakarit to rescue Arotta and fight the darkness that lurked within the jungle.
This…will be something else entirely.
A desperate race against time to evacuate as many Jedi as you can before no less than a Sith Lord approaches within a twenty-four-hour window of opportunity.
…
…the Garrison Moon casts a long, ominous shadow into the cockpit of the <span class="mu-i">Albatross</span>…
“Approaching exit point!” announces Suzel over the intercom. “Brace for slingshot!”
It comes almost too quickly. Suzel hits the gas as the misshapen lump of Kessel comes into full view, accelerating just enough to break away from geosynchronous orbit. Everyone slams back into their seats as the <span class="mu-i">Albatross</span> exits the gravitational well of the Garrison Moon, boosted by the slingshot to an almost obscene degree of speed.
(cont.)
