Star Wars: The Saber's Edge

Chapter 17

The hum of the ship's engines filled the air as we soared through hyperspace, the stars streaking by in long, white lines. In the back of the ship, I could hear the muffled voices of Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and the rest of the group as they discussed their plan for taking back Naboo. From what I could gather, they were going to storm the palace, free the Queen's people, and take out the Trade Federation's forces in the process.

I stayed up front in the cockpit, though. Flying was more my speed, and besides, the whole Jedi thing was way out of my league. I was fine letting them handle the heroics. My job was just to get them there in one piece, and C2-N2 was doing most of the heavy lifting when it came to that.

C2-N2 stood beside me, his golden plating gleaming in the dim light of the cockpit as he monitored the ship's systems. "We will be exiting hyperspace shortly, Master Nicolas," he said calmly. "Once we approach Naboo, we will need to navigate around the blockade."

"Right," I said, gripping the controls a little tighter. I had seen the droid control ships in the movies, and I knew they were no joke. Getting around them was going to be tricky.

"You've been doing quite well with basic flight procedures," C2-N2 continued, his tone slightly more approving than usual. "But there is still much to learn. Would you care for some additional instruction while we prepare to exit hyperspace?"

I glanced at him. "More flying lessons? Sure, why not? Could use all the help I can get."

C2-N2 nodded, his photoreceptors flashing slightly. "Very well. Begin by stabilizing the ship's velocity as we exit hyperspace. Ensure that the throttle is eased back to allow for a smooth transition into real space. We do not want to draw unnecessary attention."

I nodded, following his instructions carefully. My fingers danced over the control panel as I adjusted the ship's speed, feeling the subtle change in the engines as we prepared to drop out of hyperspace.

"Good," C2-N2 said, his voice steady. "Now, as we approach Naboo, you will need to monitor the ship's scanners closely. The droid control ships will be patrolling the area, and we must avoid detection."

The stars outside the viewport began to slow, returning to their normal pinprick state as we exited hyperspace. In the distance, Naboo appeared—a beautiful blue and green planet, just as I remembered from the movies. But between us and the planet was a massive Trade Federation blockade. The droid control ships hovered ominously in space, their circular forms casting long shadows over the planet's surface.

"There they are," I muttered, my heart pounding as I tightened my grip on the controls. "Now what?"

"Now, we navigate carefully," C2-N2 replied, his tone calm but focused. "I suggest we fly low, below the sensor range of the control ships. Use the planet's magnetic field to mask our presence."

I nodded, steering the ship lower as we approached the planet. The massive droid control ship loomed in the distance, but we kept our distance, flying just below the range of their scanners.

"Maintain this course," C2-N2 instructed. "And keep an eye on the sensors. The droid control ships are programmed to scan for incoming vessels, but they may not detect us if we stay low enough."

I glanced at the ship's scanners, watching the readouts closely as we approached the planet. The control ships were moving slowly, patrolling the area, but so far, we were in the clear.

In the back of the ship, I could hear Qui-Gon's voice as he and Obi-Wan continued discussing their plan with Padmé and the others. I couldn't make out the details, but I knew they were gearing up for a fight. Meanwhile, I had my own task—keeping us off the radar.

"You're doing well, Master Nicolas," C2-N2 said, his voice steady. "Now, prepare for descent. We'll need to fly low into the atmosphere to avoid detection."

I nodded, focusing on the controls as I steered the ship closer to Naboo's surface. The planet's lush forests and sparkling lakes came into view, a stark contrast to the cold, mechanical blockade above. I eased the ship down, following C2's instructions as we descended into the atmosphere.

"Excellent," C2-N2 said, his tone approving. "You've successfully navigated the approach. Now, bring the ship down at a low altitude to avoid further scans. We'll need to find a discreet landing zone near the capital."

I adjusted the ship's trajectory, keeping us low as we flew over the forests and rolling hills of Naboo. The planet was just as beautiful as I'd imagined, and for a moment, I almost forgot about the blockade and the battle to come.

As we flew closer to the capital, I spotted a clearing near the edge of the city—large enough to land the corvette without attracting too much attention.

"There," I said, pointing at the clearing. "We can land there."

"Good choice, Master Nicolas," C2-N2 replied. "Prepare for landing."

I eased the ship down, guiding it into the clearing with a careful hand. The corvette's landing gear extended with a soft hiss, and the ship touched down smoothly on the grassy surface. I let out a breath I didn't realize I'd been holding and leaned back in the pilot's seat.

"We're down," I muttered, feeling the tension slowly ease out of my body.

"An excellent landing," C2-N2 said, his tone filled with pride. "You're improving, Master Nicolas."

I couldn't help but grin a little. "Thanks, C2. Couldn't have done it without you."

The rest of the crew gathered in the main hold as the ship powered down. Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and the others looked ready for action, their faces set with determination. This was it. The battle for Naboo was about to begin.