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“Um…I’ll put you through to Lieutenant Tebut.”

Tycho gritted his teeth at both the delay and the unpleasantness of the duty he was performing. But that was it—duty. Duty meant he had to alert his chain of command that insurgents, including his best friend’s wife, were aboard. Duty meant he had to do his best to prevent the destruction of Centerpoint—destruction that he privately welcomed, as it would remove one of the galaxy’s most destructive and ill-used forces from the playing field.

Abruptly smoke began pouring out of the Reveille’s thrusters. It was far too thick, too voluminous, to be the result of an engine fire. It flowed rapidly in all directions, engulfing the security team and mechanics moving toward the shuttle.

It reached the rear edge of the security team guarding Tycho before any of them noticed. Then one waved and shouted. All turned to look.

All but one. Overly tense, startled by the shout, the guard fired. The shot hit Tycho in the center of the chest, frying his comlink.

Tycho went down, dropping once more into his pilot’s seat.

chapter thirty-three

“Blast it.” Over Syal’s helmet speakers, Wedge sounded aggrieved. “He’s going to get himself…” But Syal saw, as Wedge must, Tycho’s X-wing threading its way through the barrage of turbolaser fire with the ease of an airspeeder dodging repulsorlift lane markers. A moment later the X-wing and the shuttle were out of sight, swallowed by the Star Destroyer.

“All right. Rakehell Leader to squadron. Form up on me. It’s time to annoy another shuttle. Four, you’re at your own discretion.”

“I’ll stick with you, Leader. My Alliance duties are done for the moment.”

“Good.” Wedge banked toward the distant Centerpoint Station, and the Rakehells followed.

CORELLIA, CORONET, COMMAND BUNKER, PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE

The hologram of General Phennir swam into resolution before Minister Teppler, who adjusted a knob on the desk beside him; Phennir was suddenly of normal height. “General, we don’t have time to fence. Centerpoint Station is under attack. The enemy appear to be trying to board and assume control. Where are the nearest Confederation forces you could send to aid us?”

“We have a few ships near Corellian space, mostly doing reconnaissance. Nearest beyond that will be at Commenor.” Phennir frowned. “But as I told…Prime Minister Koyan, Corellia can fend for herself while he remains obstinate.”

Teppler nodded. “I suspect that Koyan will not remain…obstinate much longer. Have your forces standing by to jump into our system.”

Phennir nodded. “Understood. We will stand by for confirmation that obstinacy is at an end.”

Teppler hit a button, and Phennir disappeared. He hit another to transmit to the assistant in the next office. “Get me Koyan, immediately.”

ABOARD THE ANAKIN SOLO

“Sir?” This time Nevil’s voice carried some urgency. “We have unsubstantiated reports that there are Jedi and saboteurs aboard. We do know that there is a disturbance in the main hangar bay.”

Caedus, eyes still closed, raised a hand to forestall further words. He needed to concentrate. His forces were taking the Corellian defenders to pieces, and he could afford no distractions.

On the other hand, he could not afford to ignore the possible presence of Jedi, either. He carefully withdrew from the active influence of his ship commanders, then opened himself up to a different flow of the Force.

Yes, there were Jedi aboard. Luke. Ben. Saba Sebatyne.

His mother.

His eyes snapped open and his connection to his commanders faltered, vanished. “Security!”

Tebut, answering from her station below the bridge walkway, port side, sounded composed as usual. “Sir.”

“Confirm Jedi. They’ll be coming here for me.”

“Yes, sir. Initiate Plan Bastion?”

“That’s correct.” Caedus took a deep breath. His ships and boarding parties would have to succeed without benefit of his battle meditation. He needed all his focus now. His focus, and the forces he had assembled against this specific eventuality.

Even now, security