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Shroud of Lies 1999 short story by
Mark Newbold Under a year after Episode IV - A New Hope Ryath spun the Thunderchild around for what
he was sure to be the final pass and glanced down at the damage display to
his right. Shields had been fried by
that last swing by and he was less than certain that they could withstand
another withering attack from the Imperial Carrack-class light cruiser that
lay before him. He shook his head in defiance. Ryath Centaur had faced death on a thousand
occasions in the past. Betrayal by
people he believed to be friends and allies.
Survived attacks from aliens and organisations throughout the Setnin
Sector and the Mid-Rim. Withstood
accusations from those members of the Rebel Alliance he had chosen to be his
allies. He’d be damned if he’d let a
light cruiser lay his life to rest. He looked over his shoulder.
“Ranth, give me everything you can with the shields. We’ll need all we’ve got just to get
through this blockade.” Tarr Ranth acknowledged Ryath with a short nod
of his Mandalorian-helmeted head and turned his attentions to the matter at
hand. Centaur was indeed correct -
they would require more than a modicum of luck to extricate themselves from
this situation. Ever since they’d
landed on Branta to complete a vital search and destroy mission for Glann
Cipple they’d had nothing but constant attention from the authorities and
local militia. But why? Ranth frowned. He was used to the high-octane life of a
bounty hunter, chasing down his quarry throughout the galaxy, but such close
attentions from the Empire? It was a
situation he little desired. Tarr Ranth adjusted a few controls and looked
across the cockpit at Ryath.
“Done. You have full forward
shields.” “I
hope it’s enough.” The Thunderchild spun over to its starboard
side and accelerated towards the light cruiser, making itself a swift and
moving target. Most of the incoming
barrage was well wide of its target but a few accurate shots splashed off the
shields, creating multi-coloured rainbows of energy around the twenty-metre
long starship. Centaur grimaced. He knew just how much of a battering the
Thunderchild could take and this was way beyond the design specs. But there was nothing that he could do. This Imperial blockade was a welcoming
party for him, of that he was certain.
Who had planned it he wasn’t sure, but when he found out…
“Approaching the blockade now.
Kaile..?” Ryath patched through
to his second passenger Kaile Mirrener who was sitting patiently in the gunwell. A second later came the crackled reply.
“They’re blocking all communication, Centaur. This looks like the last stand. What should we do?”
“Start blasting. There’s
nothing more I can do from up here. Try to take out the power plant, aim for
the bridge, anything that gets us through those ships.” Ryath looked beyond the Carrack-class light
cruiser. There lay another four ships
of unspecified design and behind them in the distance was the Interdictor
that had dragged him unexpectedly from the safety of hyperspace. A desperate situation indeed.
“Copy that Captain.” Mirrener
replied before hammering a barrage of shots into the 350 metre-long
Carrack. The light cruisers shields withstood
the attack as the Thunderchild broke through the blockade and made it past
the Carrack, despite the unwanted attentions of Turbolasers, tractor beams
and laser cannons trying to attach themselves to the smaller ship. Ryath punched the air. It was a small victory, but with his
superior speed he would put clear air between himself and the Carrack. That just left the little matter of the
Interdictor that was waiting patiently over the unspecified world that lay
below. Ryath glanced over at Tarr
Ranth and twisted his mouth in annoyance.
“Where the hell is Jan Lomona when you need him?” Jan removed the last item of Frans’ clothing
with an easy tug and smiled a wide grin as he rolled over her. She shook her fiery red hair from her eyes
and met his stare with an expectant gaze.
Jan smiled warmly as he realised with a jolt how much he loved his
fiancée.
“Nothing on the Holo-vid tonight honey. What do you think we should do to pass the
time?” Frans wrapped her arms around his neck and
pulled him closer.
“Feel, don’t think.” Jan thought about that for a second.
“Hmmm, how deep.”
“Kaile, get up here. I need you
to pilot the ship while I plot the co-ordinates for the jump to
hyperspace.” Ryath hopped out of the pilot’s chair and
quick-stepped to the nava-computer, jabbing commands in and trying
desperately to find out just where they were. He’d plotted a course to Zelon that would
take them through the Wennicas System and up towards the central area of the
Setnin Sector and the major worlds that lay there. He made sure to stay well clear of the
Borden Space Lane, the major trade route through the sector that ran from the
Outer Rim Territories and a large part of the way to the Core Worlds. No, that would have been a signpost-marked
suicide. So, he’d plotted a circuitous
route that he doubted even an experienced spacer like Anzai Karoo would have
figured out. So how had they been
found? And now that they had been
pulled unceremoniously from hyperspace, where were they? Mirrener entered the cramped cockpit and
stepped over the back of the seat into the chair. Familiarising himself with the controls he
swung the Thunderchild away from the Interdictor and aimed towards a small
moon. He nodded as he did so. “I
know this area of Setnin pretty well.
There’s an abandoned pirate’s base down on that moon. If we can get in close enough and get these scum to follow then there should be quite a
lightshow.” Ryath turned from his calculations. “You
know where we are?”
“Sure. We’re right over
Irata. Nothing much happens down
there, its all oceans and waterfalls, but the moon was once used as a base
for a pirate group way back in the days of the Republic. The Jedi discovered them, or something and
the council sent in a few Republic cruisers to end their operations. They routed them and they left the
base.” Kaile turned with a grin on his
lean face. “But what most folks don’t
know is that the pirates left a few welcoming cards for any unwanted
visitors.” He returned his eyes to the
Interdictor that was rapidly approaching them. “I just hope I can remember what they
are. And where.” Centaur looked down at Ranth who was solid
and stoic. The nava-computer flashed
at him silently and he flicked it off with a thumb.
“Looks like we won’t be needing this for a
while.” The Imperial Interdictor Voracious’ bridge
was a hive of activity. Uniformed
officers, Stormtroopers and droids scurried about the back of the bridge as
Commander Tastor entered. He
took in the view with a look of professional pride and clasped his hands
behind his back. His distinguished guest
had come aboard with excellent credentials, even though he didn’t have any
recollection of his activities. But he
had been most insistent that they apprehend this Centaur fellow, and his
colleagues. Tastor had no reason to
argue with his guest, and ever since the Thunderchilds swift exit from Branta
they had been tailing them. His guest
seemed to know that they would be passing through the Irata System, although
Tastor thought it was an unusual route to take to head back to the central
systems. But Tastor had to admit to
himself that he was no expert on the activities and Modus Operandi of Ryath
Centaur. But his guest certainly was. Tastor turned and exited the bridge, aiming
for his quarters and a better view of the hunt. Centaur had twisted his small starship away
from the Voracious and was aiming towards a small innocuous moon. Was he going to land? Surely he must have known that an
Interdictor could simply blast them into oblivion. And Tastor would do it. If half of what he had heard about this
Centaur was true then he would be doing the galaxy a great service. Tastor’s musings were disturbed by the swoosh of his offices doors opening. He swallowed back
a bark of rebuke as he recognised the figure coalescing into view from the
shadows of the doorway. Tastor stood
and smiled, motioning with a sweep of his hand that his guest should enter
his office. His guest did, and walked
towards the window to view the battle.
Tastor had dispatched a flight of four TIE Fighters to harass and
hassle the Thunderchild into surrendering, but the silent man knew it would
be to no avail. Centaur was far too
wily to be bothered by insignificant threats like that. He turned to face Tastor.
“Commander, what is our current situation?” “The
hunt goes well. Centaur was dragged
from hyperspace and barely managed to evade our tractor beams. He tried to accelerate away but was boxed
in by the Carrack-class light cruiser and her support ships.” Tastor smiled a slimy smile that oozed
across his taut face. “His actions
indicate desperation.” Tastor’s guest shook his head and checked
outside again. The Thunderchild was
diving at a crazy angle towards the moons surface. “No
Commander. Centaur was well
trained. He’s more dangerous than you
realise.” He turned to the Commander
and pointed a long finger into his face.
“Beware Commander. Use
caution.” Tastor nodded solemnly. “Yes
Colonel Pillot.” Centaur grimaced as the G-Forces surged even
stronger than the compensators could cope with and gasped for breath as Kaile
Mirrener pulled the Thunderchild out of her suicidal descent. Mirrener’s hands flew over the controls,
adjusting trim here, attitude control there, thrusters, shields. Ranth was still overseeing all other
systems, but had said nothing for the last thirty seconds. Ryath checked the sensors.
“Looks like your plan is working Kaile. The Carrack-class is following us in.” “But
not the Interdictor?” Ryath squinted as the scanner swept across
again, revealing a stationary blip that could only be the Interdictor. “No,
she’s staying put for the moment.” “Too
bad. Oh well, here goes nothing.” Kaile swung the Thunderchild down and around
to the right and aimed towards a dark foreboding canyon that was barely
illuminated by the glint of planet light given off by Irata and nudged the
accelerator. He checked the aft
sensors. A flight of four TIE Fighters
had been dispatched and was following them into the canyon. Good, thought Kaile. That’ll give the Imps something to think
about. Like how a starship facing the
wrong way could take out a flight of their best space superiority fighters in
a twisting canyon. He grinned. Hopefully the Carrack will get close enough
to find out. “Aft
shields Ranth. And keep me apprised of
any unusual power build-ups you register.”
“Affirmative.” Mirrener’s forehead glistened in a sheen of sweaty concentration. He twisted the Thunderchild this way and
that, flying from a distant memory of the canyon he’d stored in his mind from
many years before. He was far from
being the hottest jet jockey in the galaxy, but his solid skills had served
him well in the past and Ryath was satisfied that it was Kaile who was seated
at the helm and not him. The Thunderchild tore left and into an
interconnecting canyon, a turn that was far too swift and unexpected for two
of their pursuers who failed top react quickly enough and slammed into the
outcrop of rock that marked the turn.
Two down, two to go thought Mirrener to himself. He poured on the speed, nudging the controls
to avoid jet-black stabs of rock and stone as the canyon whistled past.
“Energy surge registering directly ahead.” Shouted Ranth. Kaile barely acknowledged the warning but
responded with an action as the Thunderchild dipped even lower to the canyon
surface and hugged the terrain. Kaile
watched the terrain sensors like a Garmon Bat as his pursuers kept their
attitude level… And were torn apart by the rip of turbo laser
cannons that swung out of the walls and decimated their tiny ships.
“Strike two to the Thunderchild.”
Noted Ranth evenly as Ryath smiled and patted Kaile on the
shoulder. Mirrener stared directly ahead.
“Don’t relax yet guys. We’re
not out of this yet.” Commander Tastor read the viewscreen with a
frown and narrowed his eyes. The
Colonel was right, Centaur was not to be
underestimated. Tastor had foolishly
believed that a flight of TIE’s would be enough to flush the Thunderchild out
of hiding and back towards either the Carrack-class or the Voracious. But Centaur had managed to evade them with
ease, somehow destroying them in the process. It was a misjudgement that
Tastor would not repeat. He twisted
his head to face his first officer.
“Lieutenant Besca. Order the
Carrack to enter low orbit of the moon.
Perhaps the sight of a light cruiser will be enough to flush Centaur
out. After all.” Tastor paused and wiped his brow. “He is one of us.” Ryath leaned over the console and twisted up
for a visual check on their situation and their pursuers. He wasn’t sure to be pleased or worried
when he saw what he saw. “The
Carrack is entering low orbit. She’s
matching our speed and course.”
Centaur glanced at Kaile.
“Should I be pleased about that or worried?” “If
it gets within one klick of the surface I’d be ecstatic. But let’s not crack open a bottle just
yet. If I remember correctly we’ve got
trouble coming up.”
“What kind of trouble?” Queried
Ryath as he lowered himself into the co-pilots seat. “A
dead end.” Answered Ranth with a
growl. “This branch of the canyon
extends for another four kilometres and ends with a sheer face.”
“Great,” Muttered Ryath.
“Another dead end.”
“Don’t panic. This is
perfect. Just stay on top of things
and let the situation play out.” Ryath closed his eyes and drew in a deep
breath. I feel like a passenger on my
own ship. I need to take control. Ranth hovered as his sensors relayed the
image of the monolithic wall of stone that was swiftly approaching as Kaile
kept an eye on the Carrack-class light cruiser that was dropping swiftly
towards them. 1200 metres, 1150, 1100…
“Come on you slimebags.”
Muttered Kaile to himself. “Keep it coming…” 1050…The Carrack began to level out and Ryath
yelled in frustration.
“They’re evening out. What now
Kaile?” Mirrener swallowed determinedly and gripped
the controls. The wall was within
distance now, and blurring towards them like an asteroid. This whole play was for nothing if they
couldn’t get the Carrack to drop lower.
But they only had brief seconds to make it happen. Without asking or
checking Kaile pulled the Thunderchild out of the canyon and dipped up,
levelling out and returning the ship back into the canyon. It was enough of an enticement for the
Carrack - she threw a volley of shots into the canyon and lowered to attach
her tractor beams.
“Yes!” Yelled Kaile. “Hold on to your hats.” As the Carrack dropped below the one
kilometre level Ryath watched with fascinated disbelief as the end of the
canyon folded in on itself and split, revealing one of the largest ion
cannons he had ever seen slide forward.
With a belch of power it released a spew of blue, debilitating energy
that hit the Carrack squarely on the bridge and knocked it back. Centaur could only grin as the light
cruiser struggled to maintain its altitude, but the gravitational pull of the
moon grabbed onto it like a vice and the Imperial ship began a death drop
towards the surface. “At
such a low altitude they’ll probably survive the crash, but I don’t want to
be here to find out.” Shouted Mirrener
as he yanked the controls to pull the Thunderchild up and away. Tarr Ranth stood from his seat to watch the
ion cannon retract back into the canyon face and the stone swing back into
place as if it had never moved - the perfect hidden weapon of destruction. “I
don’t understand.” Asked Ryath as they
powered back out towards deep space.
“How come the weapons didn’t turn on us?”
“Because of the path we took.
Only the pirates knew about this branch of the canyon. It was their secret entrance into the
bowels of their hidden base.” He began
to laugh. “It took a Jedi Knight to
find that out.” Ranth folded his arms and stared down at
Kaile. “So
how did you learn of this?” Mirrener shook his head and steered towards
Irata.
“That would be telling.” “I
warned you of this Commander. Centaur
is a highly trained ex-Imperial officer.
He was on the fast track to promotion before his betrayal at
Durathosin.” Tastor gritted his teeth. He was livid on two accounts. Firstly the loss of his Carrack, an old but
valuable piece of Imperial weaponry for which he was ultimately responsible.
He would have to be more than inventive to explain her demise when the
salvage team arrived at the moon. Secondly, the tale of Ryath Centaur. A man who had spat upon and denigrated the
honour of the Empire. Pillot had told him of his actions on Durathosin - how
he had collaborated with rebels to have his squadron and his compatriots
killed. How he had allowed General
Mansinson of sector intelligence to die in a squalid rebel stronghold. How he had even allowed his own brother
Torath to die at rebel hands. Lowly
scum, worthy of no compassion whatsoever. Tastor turned to Pillot.
“Colonel. We have lost five
ships so far. It is apparent to me
that you are far more knowledgeable about this traitor Centaur.” He straightened his tunic and stood tall
before Pillot. “Sir, I believe you
should command the remainder of this mission.” Pillot stoically nodded, but inside was
pleased. The chance to nail Centaur at
last. My revenge. He gazed at
Tastor. How easy it has been to
manipulate this preening fool. And how
quickly he swallowed my revisionist tale about Centaur. After all, would he be so swift to assist
if he knew that it was I who’d killed Mansinson? If he knew that I had removed Centaur from
the equation so I could take his wife Sarra as my own? That if the situation was different that I
would still be a Colonel in the Empire and not simply using forged codes to
use this Interdictor for my own convenience.
Pillot took a seat behind Tastor’s desk and
placed his hands flat on the tabletop. “The
homing beacon you secreted aboard the Thunderchild back on Branta. It is still operating?” Tastor nodded. “We
believe so sir. There’s a transmission
block operating right now, so there is no way for us to pinpoint the
beacon. But they’ve had no way of
ridding themselves of the beacon, they’ve been in
hyperspace since they left Branta.” Tastor paused. “Unbeknownst to them, an agent was tailing
them while they were on Branta. Unless they’ve miraculously figured out what
the beacon was disguised as, they would have no way of telling that it was
even aboard.” Pillot looked down at his own reflection in
the tabletop. To catch Centaur now
would be perfect. But it would also be
games end. If I allow him to continue
his travels then he will lead me to his friends and allies. And who is to say
that that won’t include the Alliance?
Or wanted criminals in the Setnin underground? No, to take him now would be premature. He knows that he is in danger and that is
enough to keep him on edge. I have his
ship tagged. When the time is right
I’ll take him, and his allies. Pillot looked up at Tastor and stood to his
feet.
“Allow the Thunderchild to escape.
Make it look believable, but allow Centaur to jump to hyperspace.”
“Sir..?” Pillot cut him off with a stab of a wave. “I’m
sure you heard me the first time Commander.
Let him escape. We’ll apprehend
him and his cronies later.” “Yes
sir.” Ryath checked the sensor and adjusted the
focus. There was another wing of TIE’s
on their tail but they were making little headway. The Thunderchild was nothing if not a fast
ship and as they angled their way towards open space and the safety of
hyperspace he allowed himself a small smile. “The
Voracious is turning towards us to begin a pursuit.” Ranth paused. “And the TIE Fighters are gaining
slightly.” Ryath made the last of his calculations and
entered the co-ordinates into the nava-computer. He’d decided that they would no longer be
travelling to the central systems and Zelon but Corewards toward the Luronsa
System. Specifically to confuse
whoever it was that had tried to secure a homing beacon aboard his ship. He sat next to Ranth and eased back into the
seat. “Don’t
worry, they won’t be catching us.” Ranth frowned, the red glow of the cockpit
instruments reflecting softly against the matt black finish of his helmet. “You
seem certain of that.” “I
am. You see,” Began Ryath as he
stood. “When we were on Branta someone
tried to tag us with a homing beacon.
Until I took care of him. They
wanted to monitor our movements through the sector and nail us at their
convenience. And their plan worked, to
a degree. Our tail must have copied my
astrogation co-ordinates from the nava-computer whilst he was hiding the
beacon on the Thunderchild, so they knew which route we would be
travelling. Our pursuers contain a man
who knows a lot about me. A former
compatriot.” He smiled a hollow smile,
careful not to reveal to his colleagues his true past – that he was a rising
star in the Imperial army before the unfortunate incident on Durathosin. “Despite his knowledge of my style he
forgot to factor in one thing.” “And
what was that?” Asked Ranth, as Kaile
Mirrener pulled the lever back and the pinpoints of stars spun into streaks
and the Thunderchild entered the turbulent world of hyperspace. “The
homing beacon was disguised. Quite a
clever disguise actually for what it was.
Most starships have toolkits aboard, some old ones passed down from
father to son. Some new, bought for
the specific ship. Well I don’t carry
tools aboard the Thunderchild. Never
have.” Ranth cocked his head in confusion. “No
tools? But what would you do in the
event of an emergency?”
“Improvise, like all us spacers have to learn to do. But our mysterious follower doesn’t know
that. So when I found a toolkit in the
equipment locker I knew that it was a beacon.
I knew for sure when I scanned it before we left Branta.” Ranth slapped his thigh in amusement. “So
you left it on Branta?” “No,
no. I know who it is who’s tailing
us. He’s been trying to nail me for a
while. So before we paid off the
Portmaster I took a trip to the local Letter-Search Office and posted the
tools. Return to sender.” Letter-Search was a massive corporation that
guaranteed, with a 99% certainty, that items sent with simply a name and a
picture would be delivered to their recipients. Using all available public records and
location systems the parcels or letters arrived - eventually. “So who was the sender
then?” Asked Mirrener, spinning the
chair from the swirl of hyperspace. Ryath grinned. “A
man called Pillot. Someone who was
drummed out of the Empire a few months ago.
Someone who’s obviously sightseeing on a false ID.” Ryath Centaur laughed. “Is he going to be in for a shock when they
trace the beacon back to wherever he is at the time.” Talk your way out of that one Pillot. The Thunderchild roared through hyperspace,
taking her passengers safely to their next destination… Shroud of Lies 1999 short story by
Mark Newbold Under a year after Episode IV – A New Hope Histories – Taking place a few
short days after the events of A New
Hope, Shroud of Lies gives us
an insight into the battle of wills between ex-Imperial Colonel Pillot and speeder bike
Captain-turned-mercenary Ryath Centaur. Cast of Characters
Ryath Centaur Kaile Mirrener Tarr Ranth Pillot Commander Tastor Jan Lomona Frans Latka
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