Okay. Mako held up his right hand, and used his left to tick off points on his fingers as he spoke. Fact number one. Fellow sentients and inhabitants of Nar Shaddaa . . . we are in a world of trouble. Within a week, a squadron of Imperial vessels is going to be dispatched from Teth, sent by our own beloved Moff, Sam Shild. This squadron has orders to wipe us out. Not give us a bloody nose, or destroy some of our ships. I mean theyre going to do their best to see that no more smuggling happens out of Nar Shaddaa- ever. The place will be a smoking ruin.

  A murmur of fear ran through the auditorium as the assembled smugglers tried to assimilate Makos words.

  Fact number two, Mako went on, were on our own for this one, folks. The Hutts have just spent a bundle of credits installing brand-new planetary defense shields so they can hide behind em on Nal Hutta, while the Imp fleet use s up their ammo on us. The Hutts have, by report, hired a small fleet of meres to come in and help defend them, but their primary strategy is just to let the Imps have Nar Shad-daa, and hope thatll satisfy cm.

  Boos, hisses, and catcalls of all kinds filled the space, drowning Mako out. The smugglers howled their rage, their threats, their anger at the Hutts. It was nearly five minutes before Mako could make himself heard again.

  Yeah, yeah! It makes me mad, too, friends, but what can you do? Theyre Hutts, so whaddaya expect, folks? But anyway thats the point. Whatever we do about this, its our call. The slugs aint gonna help us out. Grumbling, the crowd subsided.

  Okay, fact three. We aint exactly helpless, fellow sen-tients. We have it on good authority that the Imp squadron doesnt include anything with super-heavy firepower. No Star Destroyers. Thats good news for us. That means we can fight back!

  Mutters of consternation swelled, mingled with yells of determination Yeah! Well fight! Well kick their butts! We wanna fight! Those Imps cant shoot for sour trig-berries! We aint running from a bunch of Imps! Well make em, sorry they attacked us!

  Mako grinned. Hey, fellow sentients, my thoughts ex-actly. I intend to fight this fleet, and if its just me out there in my one ship, so be it. Nobody is wiping me out without a fight! Nobody?

  This time, the cheers from the crowd were deafening.

  Yeah! MakoT You lead us, Mako! Yeah, well fight!

  Mako motioned for quiet. All right, those who want to fight, raise their hands, or paws or tentacles or whatever you got. Those who dont wanna fight-I suggest you take your belongings and your families and head out right now. Its gonna get dicey around here, real soon.

  Hah, who was watching from the wings of the stage, was surprised to see that the vast majority of the assembled beings stayed. Only a couple of dozen sentients got up and left.

  Mako waited until they were out of the way before he started in again. Okay, folks. First thing we need is for everyone with some battle experience to come on down here to the front. Im not talkin about winging a pirate who got too close, Im talkin real combat experience in space, specially against the Imperials. Cmon down here.

  Over the next several minutes about forty sentients, most of them humanoid, made their way down front. Okay, guys, Mako said. The first thing we need here in planning a counteroffensive is a leader. Anyone wanna vol-unteer?

  One of the humanoids, a Bothan, pointed up at the se-nior smuggler. You, Mako! You be our leader! he shouted.

  The crowd reacted enthusiastically to this suggestion, and soon a swelling chant was heard. Ma-ko! Ma-ko! Ma-koll MA-KO!

  The chanting went on, gaining in volume, until Hah wanted to put his hands over his ears. Mako waved his arms, and silence descended. Okay! Okay! he said, his teeth flashing in a wide grin. Im real flattered, folks. And I swear to you that Ill do my best for you. I swear it! Thunderous cheers erupted again.

  Okay, one more thing, then Im gonna dismiss you for now, Mako said. I want you to meet my right-hand man, folks. A lot of you know him as a smuggler with a cranky ship and a big, furry sidekick. Han Solo, cmon out here!

  Hah walked out. He and Mako had basically figured that the senior smuggler would get tapped to lead the Nar Shaddaa forces. Things were going just as the two of them had figured they would.

  More thunderous cheers, and a chant of Ma-ko! Hah!

  Mako! Hah! sprang up.

  Hah waved at the crowd, feeling his cheeks grow warm. Hed never before had thousands of people cheering just for him before. When hed been Xaverris assistant, hed shared the spotlight, but it wasnt the same as this. Hearing all these people applauding him was a weird-but pleas-ant---experience.

  Okay, folks, Mako said, waving again for quiet. Im gonna ask my combat veterans down there-he indicated the little crowd to stay in close touch and check in here at Tile Chance Castle each morning. Well post notice of meetings or drills outside the auditorium, okay? Now lets have a round of applause for our brave volunteers Irere!

  Cheers resounded. It was obvious that the crowd of sen-tients felt tremendously better, just knowing they were go-ing to do something, instead of tamely waiting to be slaughtered.

  Once the main crowd had left, Mako addressed the combat veterans. Okay, Han and me are gonna put to-gether a plan for our defense over the next day or so, and then well brief you on it, and begin battle drills. By the tinre those Imps get here, everyone is going to know just what to do, and thats a promise. If you folks know any other sentients with combat experience, bring em along to the briefing. Got that?

  The veterans all indicated that they did. Good, Mako said. Over the next couple of days, get your ships in prime fighting condition. Shields fully charged, armor reinforced, all lasers charged . . . you know the drill. We need .all our ships working at full capacity. So lets get started, right? Right! riley shouted.

  After Mako dismissed the cmbat veterans, he and Hah headed for one of the meeting rooms in the back of the casino, where they were joined by the rest of the smuggler High Command-as Mako and Han had jokingly dubbed their group. Chewbacca, Roa, Shug Ninx, Salla Zend, Lando Calrissian, Rik Duel, and Sinewy Ana Blue made up Makos elite group of experienced smugglers.

  Mako and Han didnt plan to tell anyone but the High Command that they were in possession of the Imperial bat-tle plan. They figured that might make the smugglers over-confident, and that would be disastrous for their side. Also, some smugglers would sell their grandmothers for enough credits, and they couldnt afford a security leak.

  As Han sat beside him, Mako called up a holographic schematic on his datapad, and projected it above the table-top. All those present leaned forward to study the plan.

  Look here. Mako used a laser pointer to indicate the small, holographic representations of the ships in question. Weve got the Imp capital ships coming out of hyperspace here, and advancing on Nar Shaddaa. And sixteen skirmish line ships, Guardian-class Customs light cruisers, theyll be coming out of hyperspace in a shell formation to surround Nar Shaddaa. Then weve got two recon line vessels, thatll be these Carrack-class cruisers, one on each side ... here and here. Everyone got that? Got it, Rik Duel said.

  And then, back here in a wedge formation, are the three Dreadnaughts and the four bulk cruisers . . . the heavy stuff. Remember that these Dreadnaughts each carry twelve TIE fighters, and the Carrack-class light cruisers each carry four recon TIEs. Thats at least forty-four TIEs were going to have to deal with.

  The members of Makos High Command looked at each other with worried expressions. Smugglers Run is beginning to look better and better, Sinewy Ana Blue said. The Imps would never be crazy enough to send a fleet into an asteroid field.

  Han was quick to reassure them. Hey, we can handle these TIEs, he insisted. No shielding, dont forget. Theyre fast little suckers, true, but even a brush with a quad or turbolaser beam and . . . He opened both hands and mouthed boom.

  Mako nodded. Han used to fly TIE fighters in combat situations, and while I was in the Academy I trained in them. The only reason were still here is that were not still doing it. TIE fighter pilots are really, really good . . . but that doesnt keep most ofem from winding up really, really dead.

  Okay, Lando spoke up, so we know what the Impe-rial force is, and how theyre going to approach us. How do we fight back against them, using freighters and a few one-man fighters like the one Roas been building?

  Everyone turned to look at the senior smuggler. Yeah, Ive almost finished work on her, Roa said. Shes gonna be a sweet little ship to handle.

  What are you naming her? Blue asked, with an impish grin.

  Roa grinned back at her. The Lwyll, of course, he replied.

  Roa and his lady love, Lwyll, had been an on-again, off-again item on Nar Shaddaa for over ten years. Everyone knew Lwyll. The lovely blond woman was one of the few people on the Smugglers Moon who lived a completely legitimate life, earning an honest credit for an honest days work. Roa had been after her for years to come and live with him, but Lwyll would never do it. She saw him, but she saw other men, too, and Roa was wounded whenever she did it.

  Still, hed never been able to bring himself to take the ultimate plunge and ask her to marry him. Han and the other smugglers had teased Roa about his indecision. All his friends could tell that Lwyll was the best thing that had ever happened to Roa.

  Youre planning to fly LwyU against the TIEs? Mako asked. What does the real Lwyll have to say about that?

  Roa sighed, and then gave his friends a rneful grin. Be-lieve me, she had plenty to say. You guys arent going to believe this . . . but last night I up and asked Lwyll to marry me.

  General murmurs of surprise ran around the table. Dont keep us in suspense, Blue cried, what did she say?

  She said no, Roa said. The senior smugglers broad, open features sagged. She said she didnt want to wind up a widow.

  Cant blame her for that, Lando said. None of the smugglers in the room was married, and it was no accident. Living bn the edge as they did, it was impossible for them to maintain anything approaching a normal family life.

  Chewbacca turned to Han and spoke earnestly. The Corellian translated for those who didnt understand Wookiee. Roa, Chewie says that if you were a Wookiee, itd be time for you to settle down. He thinks Lwyll is too good to lose. He likes her.

  Roa grinned. Hes right. Shes too good to lose. Thats why this battle is my last stand as a smuggler, guys. If I live through it, I m gonna quit this life and go straight.

  Everyone was amazed to hear this from the senior smug-gler, knowing how much Roa loved the life hed chosen. Yep, Im gonna do it, Roa insisted. And Lwyll says if I do, shell be my wife.

  Well . . . congratulations! Lando said. Thats great news. Youre getting one wonderful woman, Roa.

  All the smugglers echoed the young gamblers senti-ments.

  I know it, Roa agreed. So . . . all I gotta do is make it through this battle . . .

  Speaking of which, we ought to get back to it, Mako said. And figure out a way to beat these Imps.

  We have one big advantage, Roa said. The element of surprise.

  Mako stared at him. We know when theyre coming, so theres no element of surprise there. But . . . theyre in-vading us. How are we supposed to surprise them?

  Roa smiled genially and waved a hand at the ceiling.

  Think, my friends, think! Whats up there?

  A shield that needs fixing a lot, Mako said grimly.

  Past that, Roa said.

  Traffic buoys, Han said.

  Farther, Roa said.

  Han thought for a moment, then a slow smile crept over his face. Salla laughed. I get it! Space junk! Dozens . . . hundreds . . . of junked spaceships and parts of space-ships.

  Roa was nodding at tile tall lady smuggler. Right. So much space junk in that ring around Nar Shaddaa that ships could hide behind it, or beneath it, or in its shadow- and then pop out and catch the Imp fleet by surprise. Chewie voiced a loud Hrrrrnnnnnnn!

  Now it was Makos turn to nod excitedly. I think you got something there, Roa, he said. And it might work. Especially if we staged a couple of ships frantically running for cover freighters, theyll think theyre civs-and got the Imps to chase em until theyre right where we want them, then-he punched the air-wham! We pop out of cover and clobber them!

  Excitedly tile senior smuggler keyed the operation Roa had described into the datapad. The High Command watched as the ring of debris around Nar Shaddaa swam into view. As the Imperial skirmish ships zoomed in in pur-suit of two small freighters, converging on the rightmost hemisphere (if one were facing Nal Hutta), suddenly a multitude of assorted freighters and other ships zipped out of concealment in the debris ring and zeroed in on the Imperial ships, lasers flashing.

  Okay, that should enable us to take care of a good per-centage of those skirmish ships, Han said. But what do we do about the recon vessels, and that wedge of capital-class ships . . . the Dreadnaughts and bulk cruisers?

  A gloomy silence fell. Finally Mako spoke up. I know the Hutts are hiring a mere force-probably pirates-to defend Nal Hutta. The slugs dont give a hoot about Nar Shaddaa, not in comparison to their own precious hides, but if that mere captain has any smarts, hell recognize that we could add significantly to his firepower. Maybe we can get him, whoever he is, to take part in the battle. Its worth a try, at least.

  Lando was staring morosely at the creeping holographic image of the bulk cruisers and Dreadnaughts advancing on Nar Shaddaa. Those pirates are apt to have superior fire-power, right?

  Mako nodded. Right. Theyll probably have some cap-tured Imp vessels that theyve modified. Maybe even some heavy weaponry like proton torpedoes. But their ammo would be limited. Its hard to just buy proton torpedoes to arm pirated Imp vessels. The Imps kinda frown on having their own ships used against cm.

  He said this last so dryly that a chuckle ran around the table.

  Han was studying the wedge of capital-class ships. All of these ships have forward-firing main guns, he said. Too bad we cant hit them with a flank attack. But we just dont have the ships to do it, if the main part of our fleet will still be engaging those skirmish ships and the TIEs.

  Maybe thats where we can convince the meres to help us, Mako said thoughtfully. If they attacked on the Imp flank, theyd stand a decent chance of crippling one of those big ships, and that would be a ship they could com-mandeer after the battle. Theyd love that!

  Yeah . . . provided we could create some kind of di-version so the pirates could flank them, Han said.

  Rik Duel stroked his short, elegant beard while he thought. What we need is another fleet to come at them in a head-on run, he said.

  But we dont have enough ships to dMde our forces

  that much, Roa said. If we do, were likely to lose every-

  thing

  If we dont, were likely to lose Nar Shaddaa, Lando pointed out. Im no ex-Imp officer like Han here is, but it seems to me that weve got to do whatever it takes to keep these big ships from turning and blasting away at our moons shields. Theyre old, and it wouldnt take too many salvos to disable them. Then theyd level the place.

  Landos right, Shug Ninx said. We need something to keep those big ships occupied so the mercs---or whoever- can make a flank attack. Maybe we can . . . I dont know . . divert their attention somehow.

  Well, a formation of ships coming at them head-on would certainly get their attention, Salla said. Question is, where do we get them? Were going to have our hands full over here-she pointed into the holographic display-

  fighting these skirmish ships and TIEs.

  Han had been staring into the holographic display, thinking how real the minuscule fleet appeared, down to the tiny TIE fighters. Too bad, he thougilt, we cant project a hologram at the Imps and nmke them believe theyre un-der attack . . .

  The idea suddenly coalesced in his brain. Thats it! he shouted. That could work?

  Conversation around the table ceased, and everyone stared at the Corellian. Hah grinned at his friends excitedly. Hey, I think I may know somebody who can provide us with that head-on attack force. We can use them as a diver-sion, for long enough to distract those heavy cruisers!

  Chewbacca had obviously followed Hafts thinking. The Wookiee banged his fist on the table and roared his ap-proval.

  The remainder of the group, however, stared at Hah, confused, apparently completely in the dark. Huh? Lando said. Who? What?

  Han ignored his friend. Leaping to his feet, he gestured at Mako. Ive gotta put in a call-does the manager here have a comm unit?

  Tile manager of The Chance Castle was only too happy to allow Han to use his unit. All of the big casinos knew that a major Imperial raid would be very bad for business . .

  aria Tharen stood beside Sam Shild on the observation platform of the space station orbiting the planet Teth. The observation platform was enclosed mostly by force fields, so there was nothing visible between them and the surrounding vacuum. Bria could look straight ahead, to her left, her right, and overhead, and see nothing but naked space or the massive, turning shape of the planet. The young woman repressed a shiver as she thought of the cold, airless blackness scant meters away.

  Despite her unease, the brilliant, adoring smile on her face never wavered. When shed taken this assignment, Bria had already been a fairly good actress, able to conceal her true feelings automatically.

  But by now, she thought grimly, I probably tieserve an award. Too bad there isnt an Undercover Agent of the Year trophy . . .

  The thought was so ridiculous that it made her smile genuine, for a brief second. Moff Shild put an arm around her and squeezed her shoulders, pointing. Look, my dear! Here they come!

  The small contingent of VIPs on the observation plat-form began applauding as the Imperial fleet hove into view.

  Bria smiled and clapped as the skirmish ships, the recon vessels, the bulk cruisers, and the Dreadnaughts glided slowly toward the reviewing platform. TIE fighters swooped and darted around the bigger ships like small in-sects poised to feed off a herd of grazers.

  Shild was grinning ecstatically as he beheld his squad-ron. He gave Brias shoulders another hug, and she kept herself from shrinking away by an effort of will. Today marks the beginning of a new era of law and order in the Outer Rim, my dear! he said, in his political voice. Then he added, in a conspiratorial whisper, And the beginning of a new life for us, Bria!

 

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