Paol nodded at the young man. Glad to have you.
Han caught Lando eye and jerked his head at Jarik. Lando sighed, then stepped forward. Count me in, too, Lieutenant. Im Lando Calrissian. Glad to have you, Calrissian.
Han waved at his friends as they staed off down the-beach with Paol squadron. He watched as Bria gave fi-nal orders to the troops who would remain behind as rear guard for the ships on the beach.
Then he and Chewie started up the beach with Bria and her troops. Her comlink chirped, and she turned it up so she could hear. Han listened to the voice of the Assault Commander, Blevon, up on the Liberator. Rainbow One to all stations, we have multiple reports of heavy resistance. Be on the alert.
Bria glanced at Han, then at her chrono. All forces have landed. Were running behind. She muted the comlink so it was just a distant mutter of commanders reporting in, then broke into a jog. Hah and the squads ran after her.
The infrared goggles took some getting used to. Hah nearly tripped over beach drift, and once he got tangled in a bunch of thorny sand-grass and got thoroughly scratched. Chewie obligingly lifted him up bodily, free-ing him. His skin stinging, Han warned the others be-hind him.
Been a long time, he reflected, scrambling behind Bria up the dune, clutching the heavy A280 rifle. Sand sifted and fell around him, and the footing was treach-erous. The last time hed done something like this was not a pleasant memory....
Bria was the first to reach the top. She flattened her-self, waving caution with a hand-signal to her followers. Han wasnt expecting any fire-after all, they were not even in sight of the compound-but caution in battle was always a good thing. He dropped to his belly and wriggled up beside her, with Chewie right behind him. Sand sifted down his open collar, making him itch. He couldnt spare the time to scratch, though.
Together, Han, the Wookiee and Bria eased up the last half-meter and peered over the top of the dune-
and nearly got the tops of their heads blown off.
Repeating blaster fire hammered them, turning some of the sand to glass instantly, spraying them with minus-cule hot particles that stung like insects.
Chewie howled as he, Han and Bria threw them-selves fiat, covering, until the fire ceased. The Rebel commander took a sensor reading and looked at Han, her face a yellowish blur with white lips against the var-ied greens of the infrared. He could see her frown be-neath the masking goggles. Han. . . Im detecting at least twenty energy signatures out there, waiting for us. Whoever these guys are, theyre not a bunch of Gamorreans.
Han stared at her. That and the turbolaser...
Yeah. She thumbed her comlink to transmit. Rainbow One, this is Red One. We took turbolaser fire as we landed and changed to our alternate landing site. Were on the ground with moderate casualties. Four ships lost-three shuttles, one friend. Friend Han knew, was the agreed-upon code for a smuggler or privateer ship. Encountering heavy resistance, but continuing our assault.
The voice of Assault Command came back. Rain-bow One copies, Red One. Do you need White One?
Blevon was asking whether Bria needed reserves from the Liberator.
She keyed her link. Negative, Rainbow One. The reserves cant land while that turbolaser is still up. Were working on it. Red One out.
Rainbow One, Blevon acknowledged her, and then was quiet.
Bria switched frequencies to her inter-squad chan-nel. Jace, this is Bria. Have you sneaked a look over those dunes yet?
I did, Paols voice was grim. Who are those guys? I dont know, Bria said. But theyre obviously pro-fessionMs. You circle around through the jungle and come down the mudfiats from the north. Ill go through the jungle and come up from the South. Well catch them in a crossfire.
Copy, Paol said. You would make me crawl through the mud.
Bria laughed grimly, and broke the connection.
It took Han and Bria team nearly ten minutes to make their way far enough down the beach so they could be sure to be shielded by the jungle. They went up and over the dunes, then down again, into the jungle. Hah followed Chewie lead as they slogged through rotting vegetation. His nose wrinkled at the smell, and Chewbacca whined protestingly. Wookiees had a much more acute sense of smell than humans. Sweating and slipping through the muck underfoot, Hah wished hed worn boots with more traction.
Finally, they reached the edge of the cleared area. Brias sensors confirmed that their targets were just ahead. They crouched in the jungle and her comlink chirped softly. She turned the volume up. ... receiving multiple reports of heavy resistance. Green One reports confirmation that some professionals for a merc outfit calling itself Nova Force, have been captured. Rainbow One out.
Nova Force? Mercenaries? Han looked at Bria.
Oh, great! Howd they get here? She shrugged.
Hah scowled. And I told the smugglers and priva-teers this was going to be a piece of cake!
Hah listened tensely as she checked in with Jace Paol. Everything was in place ....
Han pulse was racing. He swallowed, and his saliva tasted metallic. You ready, pal? he whispered to Chewie, who was checking the charge in his bowcaster. Hrrrrnnnnnn!
Han checked the charge in his blaster rifle, even though he knew it was full.
Finally Bria nodded, and together, the squad wrig-gled out of the jungle, crawling along cropped vegeta-tion, their hands and knees digging into the muck. It had rained recently, of course . . . this was Ylesia. Hans fingers encountered permacrete. A landing field or road... it hadnt been there ten years ago.
Bria counted down seconds with Paol, then-
Fire!
Hah rose to his knees, sighted with his goggles, and saw a dim shape wearing an unfamiliar helmet, yellow marking body heat. He fired.
The waning night exploded into blaster fire, choked-off screams and battle cries. Still firing, Han and Chew-bacca moved forward with Brias troops. The soldier to his left went down. He glanced at her, saw a black hole where her face had been, whiffed charred meat, and kept going.
Moments later, as the enemy fire stuttered out and died, Bria yelled for cease-fire. Han and Chewie ap-proached, seeing the scattered bodies before them. Bria nudged one with her toe as Jace Paol, as smeared with mud as a tlanda Til after a wallow, approached. Look at that emblem on the sleeve, she said. An ex-ploding star. And look at their armor and equipment. ProfessionMs, all right. She counted bodies. Twenty.
There are probably more manning the turbolaser.
She and Han looked across the compound. In the pre-dawn darkness, they could make out the tower with the turbolaser atop it. Good thing they cant swing that thing down to hit targets on the ground, Han said. Or wed be cooked.
Jarik and Lando came up and the four friends stood off to the side as Bria ordered a few members of her squads to assist the wounded back to the ships, and to salvage the Nova Force weapons. Remember, people, she said, we are taking it all. If it can be re-used, sal-vage it.
They nodded.
Hah looked at Lando and Jarik, crusted with mud, and shook his head. Lando, if Drea Renthal could see you now...
Chewie began laughing.
Shut up, Han. You too, Chewbacca, the gambler said, flicking fastidiously at his ruined clothes. Luckily for him, hed donned rough clothing in preparation for the nights work. I dont want to hear it. I havent been this dirty since... well, its a long story.
Han chuckled, and looked at Jarik. So... howd you do, kid?
Jarik nodded. Pretty good, I think, Han. I got at least two of em.
Han clapped him on the shoulder. Great. Well make a warrior out of you, yet.
Jariks teeth flashed white in his mud-blackened face. As soon as the wounded were taken away by medics, Bria keyed her comlink, then ordered her waiting troops to advance on the double. Lets take that com-pound! Advance in squads! Demo teams, be ready!
She turned up the volume on the comlink, and they heard Rainbow One; this is Green Two. Im assuming command here. Green One is down.
Rainbow One copies, Green Two. Whatg yo
ur status?
Almost done here. Just mopping up. Expect to have the target secure in five minutes.
Bria made a face. Were running behind. She clicked on. Rainbow One, this is Red One. Front line resistance has been detit with. Bringing up reinforce-ments, and advancing into the compound.
Red One, status on that turbolaser?
Rainbow One, I have two squads preparing to deal with that now. Red One o ut. Rainbow One... out.
Han and Chewie watched Paol group as they headed off through the jungle to come at the turbolaser crew from the east. Then they were busy, advancing with Brias troops into the compound. They met scat-tered resistance from Ylesian guards, which, for the most part, they dealt with easily... as theyd expected to. The night was no longer silent, even when the guns were quiet. The moans and pleas of the wounded, yells for assistance, plus assorted shouted alien words ....
As they advanced, Bria squads kept reporting in
Red Hand Leader, Squad Three rporting. Andris Factory secured. Demo teams are moving in.
Red Hand Leader, Squad Six reporting. Welcome Center secured. Demo team has been summoned.
Red Hand Leader, Squad Seven, we are moving in on the dormitory. It is under guard by the mercs... but there are only about six of them. Not expecting any trouble ....
Red Hand Leader, Squad Two reporting. Were moving into position to take that turbolaser. Estimate attack will commence in... five minutes.
Han and Chewie stayed close by Brias side, as the three guarded each others backs. Bursts of blaster fire echoed through the compound, mixed with screams, Gamorrean grunts and squeals, and alien wails.
Han figured that there were probably a platoons worth of mercenaries-thirty to forty troopers, all told. The Nova Force soldiers were truly professional. They, fought bravely and well until it was obvious that defeat was inevitable, then they surrendered. They were fight-ing for credits, not a cause, and it made sense to live and fight another day.
Once a crazed Pilgrim toting a scavenged blaster pis-tol came leaping out of the shadows and nearly winged Bria. Han shot the female Bothan down, killing her-he was rushed, and had no time to aim for a disabling shot. Bria stared down at the Pilgrim in horror, and for a mo-ment Han thought he saw tears in her eyes. Honey... he said. There was nothing else I could do ....
I know, she gave him a wan smile. Itk hard, though, having them attack you when youre trying to help them.
Hah patted her shoulder consolingly. She took out her comlink in response to a chirp from Assault Com-mand and heard the ID Rainbow One.
A minute crawled by. Bria motioned her squad to fall in behind her. Then the AC channel spoke again, an outwardly calm voice that carried an undercurrent of strain Rainbow One, this is Blue One. I need some help here!
Blevonk voice was fiat Blue One, say your status. Thirty percent casualties, and theyve got us pinned down with repeating blasters, at least two of them. One in the warehouse, the other in the dormitory. I need White One.
Blue One, this is White One. I can drop two pla-toons in three minutes. Where do you want them?
Why dont you take the warehouse? Put one platoon north, just on the south side of Hill Three-One. Land the other in the jungle to the east, and hit them from the side. Ill take the dormitory.
Sounds good to me, Blue One. White One out.
Blue One out.
Bria looked over at the turbolaser. The first flush of dawn was brightening the sky. Jace should be moving in any moment ....
As if her words had been a signal, the area around the turbolaser erupted with blaster fire, shouts, screams and the sounds of at least two grenades launching. Ex-plosions filled the air.
Bria waited a few tense seconds, then activated her link. Squad Two, report! Are you in? Have you got it?
No reply. Han and Chewie looked at each other tensely as they sheltered beside the glitterstim factory. One of Brias troops came trotting around from the rear of the building. Were .all secured, Commander. Ive called for a demo team.
She nodded distractedly. Good work, Skkot. Squad Two, this is Red Hand Leader. Report, please. Whats happening?
Silence for ten endless heartbeats, then suddenly they heard the channel click. Red Hand Leader, Squad Two. It was Jace Paols voice. The troops around Han and Chewie grinned and gave a low cheer. Weve got it, but we have people down. Send the medics. Out.
Bria hastfly called in backup for Squad Two, then summoned in the medics shuttle, telling them it was safe to fly into the compound.
She called into her comlink. Squad Eight, how are you Togorians doing?
A voice came over the comlink, speaking accented but understandable Basic. Mrrov here. The building is almost secured, Bria. We are going to have to search the jungle for snipers, though. Some of the guards managed to get away. There are some ships landed up here, mostly small shuttles, but one big one. We have the ships under guard. Its possible some of the guards may try to escape.
Bria addressed the comlink. Great going, Mrrov. I bet you people made short work out of those Gamorreans.
Mrrov growled an amused laugh.
Bria switched channels, just in time to hear Red One, this is Rainbow One. Say your status.
Bria had just opened her mouth to reply when blaster fire erupted from the center of the compound, aimed at them. Bria, Hah, Chewie and the other squad members, dropped, covering against the wall. Han spat out a mouthful of mud, and wished he could rinse his mouth out with the water from the flask on his hip. But he didnt want to chance moving.
Cover me, people! Bria yelled Over her shoulder,
then she began worming her way forward. Han and Chexvie were right behind her. Blaster fire began whanging past, over their heads.
She turned, glanced back, saw him. Stay back! she hissed. I can handle this.
I know you can, Han yelled. I just want to watch! For the first time ever, he heard her swear. She took careful aim with her blaster rifle, then, when the target came up from behind a vehicle, squeezed off a round. The guard went down and lay motionless.
Good shooting! Hah applauded.
Together, they ran back into cover with the troops.
Bria spotted the comlink shed dropped, picked it up.
Red One, this is Rainbow One; say your status, Blevons voice was still calm.
Bria was calm, but a little winded. This is Red One. The turbolaser has been knocked out, and we hold most of the factories. Were attacking the warehouse and dor-mitory right now. Should be done in ten minutes. Understood, Red One. Will you need White One? I dont think so, Rainbow One. Were beating them.
Rainbow One copies.
They waited, listening tensely. Then . . . Rainbow One, this is Gld One. Objective secure. Rainbow One... copy that.
A minute later, they heard, Rainbow One, this is Or-ange One. Target is secured.
Rainbow One. Copy that.
The other commanders from all the colonies except Colony Three reported in, one by one. By that time, Bria had checked in with all her people. Rainbow One, she said. This is Red One. Report target is se-cure here.
Rainbow One, copy that.
We still havent heard from Colony Three, Bria said, worriedly. Theyre the ones who needed backup. Hope everythings okay....
As if in answer to her concern, a different voice spoke up. Rainbow One, this is White One, reporting from Colony Three. Target is secure.
Blevon said, Acknowledged, White One. Wheres Blue One?
The new voice was bleak. Shes dead.
Bria looked up. Well, thats it. Ylesia is ours, gentles, except for mopping up. Lets call in those ships.
Han turned to Chewbacca and pulled the WooBee aside. Chewie, I need you to do something right now, he said.
Arhnnnn?
Weve got this area secured, but it sounds like Mrrov and Muuurgh could use some help up in the Admin Building. Where the Treasure Room is. I want you to check on em, make sure theyve got it secured, give em a hand if they need it. Your night vision is about
as good as a Torgorians, and if theyre chasin some of those guards through the jungle, you could be a big help, and you know it.
Hrrrrrhhhhh! Chewbacca, as usual, took a dim view of being separated from his partner.
Come on! Han said. Im worried that some of those guards might break in and start stealin Teroenzas collection! Thats our stuff, remember?
Chewie grumbled, but his resistance was weakening. Listen up, furball, Han snapped, I dont have time to argue. I trust Muuurgh and Mrrov, but I dont know those other Togorians. And all it would take is one busy guard who managed to break in. So you help Muuurgh and Mrrov secure the place, make sure the Treasure Room is still locked up, and come straight back. Shouldnt take you half an hour. You remember the lo-cation of the Treasure Room on that plan I sketched for you?
H rrrrrrnnnnnnnn...
Good. Get your furry butt in gear.
Chewbacca was not happy, but the Wookiee de-parted without further argument.
By now, ships were dropping from the pink-tinged sky like metal rain, landing in the center of the compound.
Han was just taking a swig of water from his flask when a dark figure ran toward him. Han pushed up his goggles, squinted in the wan pre-dawn light, and real-ized it was Lando. Even before he saw the gamblers face, Han knew something was wrong. He hurried toward his friend.
Han... its Jarik. Kid took a hit ....He isnt going to make it. Hes calling for you.
Blast! Together, they ran.
Lando led him over to the temporary aid station the medics had set up, then pointed to a stretcher. Han walked over, looked down, and recognized Jariks unruly hair-and that was practically all. The young mans face was a scorched, reddened horror. At first Han thought he was dead, then he saw that Jarik was still breathing. He looked up hopefully at the nearest medic. The Alderaanian shook her head grimly, mouthed, Sorry.
Hey . . . Jarik . . . can you hear me? Hah took the grimy hand in his, grasped it firmly. Kid . . . its Han ....
Jarik no longer had much in the way of eyelids, and Han knew he must be blind. But he turned his head slightly, and his mouth moved. Han...
Dont try to talk . . . youre gonna be fine. Theyll pop you in a bacta tank, and youll be chasin girls and shootin Imps in no time.
Star Wars - The Han Solo Trilogy - Rebel Dawn Page 29
