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By the time Shoran reached the port pod hatch where the hatch-cutting mechanism was attached, Chewbacca had gently nestled the Falcon against the enemy vessel’s hull, allowing the cutting ring’s magna grapples to grab hold. By the time Chewbacca rejoined Shoran at the hatch, the cutting ring had already burned halfway through the armored plasteel. Lumpawarrump was there as well, holding both Chewbacca’s weapons and his own, ready to take up his assigned task of defending the entrance to the Falcon.

[Chewbacca!] Jowdrrl shouted down the access tunnel.

Chewbacca collected his blaster rifle from Lumpawarrump, then placed a paw on his son’s shoulder. [Go trade places with Jowdrrl.]

[Father—]

[Hurry.]

The nitrogen overpressure pumped into the space between the two ships before the final burn-through caused the metal disc cut from Pride of Yevetha’s hull to blow back into the enemy ship as a spectacular half-ton projectile.

Chewbacca and Shoran poured through the opening moments later, each wielding a heavy blaster in each hand. Standing back to back, they quickly cut down the half dozen Yevetha who came running at the sound of the breach.

As Chewbacca stepped over the bodies he saw that none of the Yevetha had been armed. [Ship’s crew,] he said to Shoran. [Troops will be next.]

Still back-to-back, they hurried down corridor 278 toward detention block three.

Lin Prell, senior tender of the breederies of Viceroy Nil Spaar, paid no mind to the alarms sounding at the monitoring console. They concerned matters outside his realm, and the new hanging in alcove five needed its blood wash.

After that, he would check the temperature of all the active alcoves, record the growth of the other fertilized casks, and wet-sweep alcove seven for the mara-nas expected later that night. And when he could find no more work in this breedery, there were four others he could inspect—anything to keep his hands and mind busy, to keep his thoughts away from the castration knife that had been delivered to his quarters this morning, and the example he was expected to set.

In that frame of mind, Lin Prell almost welcomed the interruption when two hulking, shaggy-furred vermin blasted through the wall of the monitor room and began shooting up the consoles.

There will be much work to do—much work, he thought as he hurried down the narrow corridor toward the commotion.

“What is it? What do you want?” he called ahead, catching a glimpse of one of the invaders moving about the outer compartment.

The only answer was a horrible growl and another volley of blaster fire around the mouth of the corridor. Lin Prell quickly reexamined his commitment to protecting Nil Spaar’s progeny, and then began to back-pedal down the metal walkway.

The monsters were apparently incapable of speech, so Lin Prell made no further attempts to communicate with them. When one of the creatures appeared at the end of the corridor, roaring in savage fury, the senior keeper hurled himself into the nearest unused alcove and secured the door behind him. As he huddled in the corner, waiting, he comforted himself with the thought that he might never see the black-handled knife again.

[Where are they?] Chewbacca roared. [Where are the prisoners? What are these repulsive things?] Raising the rifle, he blasted the fleshy sac hanging from the cell wall, causing a pulpy explosion. [Honor brother!] he roared. [Call to me!]

There was no response, leading to a murderous growl of frustration. With Shoran guarding his back, Chewbacca picked his way down the corridor, peeking into each cell in turn and then laying heavily on the triggers of his weapons.

[Come on,] Shoran urged. [This is a hothouse—they’re holding him somewhere else. We have to keep moving.]

Chewbacca peered