Star Wars - First Blood by Christie Golden

Sith apprentice Vestara Khai stood beside her master, Lady Olaris Rhea, in the courtyard of the Sith Temple. Grand Lord Darish Vol was present, along with all the High Lords and Lords of the Sith Circle. There were too many Sith Sabers to include them all, so only a prestigious few had been chosen. Vestara’s father, Saber Gavar Khai, was among that number. She watched him as he stood next to his friend, Ruku Myal, a Saber as fair-haired as Khai was dark, as animated as Khai was solemn. Vestara was the sole apprentice. Oh, the rest of the Sith on Kesh would be watching, of course. Holocams were set up all over the courtyard, and the event would be broadcast live all over the planet.
Vestara did not pay much attention to the speech Grand Lord Vol gave, and she suspected that, revered as Vol was, few others did either. Everyone was waiting for the Sith training sphere, Ship, who had told them to gather, as he had something very important to tell them.
And when he finally spoke, inside their minds, Vestara was stunned.
For long you have been isolated. Yet a well-established trade route closer than you know will open the galaxy to your conquest. We will find a vessel to take, and use it to repair the crashed warship Omen that stranded you here. And we will strike again and again, until we have a fleet to breed fear throughout galaxy. Five of you will accompany me on this initial voyage. Come.
Murmurs of excitement arose, and then the names were placed in their minds. High Lord Sarasu Taalon. No surprise there, Vestara thought. Dark purple head held high, the Keshiri High Lord seemed unable to keep from smirking as he strode up to stand beside the Sith training sphere. Lord Ivaar Workan. Again, not unexpected. Both men, the Keshiri and the older human male, were powerful in the Force and, Vestara had heard, ruthless as well. Of course, Ship would choose them.
Lady Olaris Rhea. Lady Rhea exuded pleasure and confidence in the Force as she absently patted Vestara’s cheek and lithely strode forward to join the two High Lords.
Saber Ruku Myal. Vestara felt a ripple of surprise in the Force. A Saber? When there were still Lords and High Lords from which to choose? Myal’s chiseled features betrayed little, as did his Force aura. Nonetheless, he had to have been surprised at the choice.
Vestara Khai.
Vestara blinked, confused, thinking that Ship was speaking solely to her for some reason. What is it, Ship?
A brush of humor. Come along, apprentice. Do not keep your betters waiting.
Vestara knew she did a poor job of concealing her astonishment and delight as she made her way to stand with a High Lord, two Lords, and a Saber. But in the end, the disapproval coming from the crowd members meant little to her. She was going with Ship, and they were not.

* * *

“Good thoughts, Apprentice Khai?” The voice was masculine and kind. Vestara smiled. If her father couldn’t be here, at least her father’s friend was.
“The best, Saber Myal,” she replied.”! am thinking of how fortunate I am to be here on this historic occasion.”
“Apprentice,” growled Taalon, “you waste your energy and that of others. You should be meditating.”
“No, Taalon. None of us should be,” said Workan. And he was right. Vestara felt the change in Ship, a tension, a readiness. Part of the curving sides that formed Ship’s interior wall became transparent. These five Sith, for the first time, beheld a spaceship other than the Omen .
They heard Ship in their minds: T his vessel is a Damorian s18 light freighter. it has a crew of six. It is en route from Eriadu, a major shipyard. Its cargo will help our cause greatly.
“What do we do?” asked Taalon.
We must damage it so that it is forced to land for repairs, Ship replied. Command me.
Taalon, the leader of group, responded immediately. At once, Ship - designed to obey a powerful will - sprang into action. Vestara and the others found themselves making use of the Force to press their bodies flat