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“Salla and I were just wondering the same thing. I don’t want to miss out on the chance to score some more hits on those Imp skirmish ships. Salla and I got quite a few of them,” Lando said proudly.

“Three Guardian-class light cruisers,” Salla interjected.

“Hey, congratulations!”

“Master.” Vuffi Raa’s precise tones were unmistakable. “Would you like me to swing us around so we can fly back to the action with Captain Solo?”

“Yeah, Vuffi Raa, why don’t you do that? Oh, and … don’t call me master.”

“Yes, Master.”

Han was now close enough to his friends that he could see them in the distance as they peeled off and swooped back to join him. Han chuckled. “Where in the galaxy did you pick up that droid, Lando?”

“Long story.”

Moments later the three vessels were flying together. Han was fiercely glad to find out his friends were okay. It felt good, all of them flying together, united against the Imperials.

Han keyed his comm again. “So, guys, how are we gonna get past the fleet, back to the IP?”

Suddenly Chewie, who had abandoned his useless gun turret and come up to serve as copilot and to man the Bria’s bow guns, growled urgently and gestured at the sensors.

Han looked, and saw the wedge of pursuing capital ships slow, then begin to execute a ponderous turn, all the while remaining in perfect formation.

“Go, Xaverri!” he shouted, then he keyed his comm.

“Hey, Lando, Salla! Check your forward sensors!”

The Imperial ships were just out of visual range by now. Han found himself wishing fiercely that he could catch up to them, do some more damage.

“They can see it!” Lando said. “Why can’t we?”

“Because we’re behind it,” Han said. “It all has to do with the angle of the light rays. Complicated, but trust me. The Imps are seeing a big fleet comin’ straight at them!”

The Imperial fleet continued to execute their turn. I hate being stuck back here, out of the action! Han thought.

Suddenly, seeing the direction in which the fleet was turning, Han had an idea. He keyed his comm. “Lando, Salla! We’re close enough to the wedge to be able to do a two-second hyperspace microjump right into the middle of the illusion. If we alter our approach vector slightly just before the jump, we’ll wind up on the right approach path to come roaring in with those phantoms, firin’! Let’s give Xaverri’s fleet some real teeth!”

“Han!” Salla protested. “We’re right in the middle of a gravity well, in case you haven’t noticed!”

“We’re close enough to where the two bodies balance each other out,” Han insisted. “We can do it, guys! C’mon! Follow me!”

He altered his flight vector slightly, and was pleased to note that Rimrunner and the Falcon followed him.

“Okay, we’re all set!” Han said tensely. “Now for the microjump!”

“Hey, Han, that illusion is only going to be good for another couple of minutes!” Lando protested. “We can’t possibly get a course out of the navicomputers in time!”

“I got it covered,” Han said. “You just order that fancy little droid of yours to compute our microjump and put the three of us right in the forefront of that fleet. He can dump the figures into our navicomputers over the comm. Can’t you, Vuffi Raa?”

“I am a class two droid, of course I can make such an elementary calculation,” Vuffi Raa said, sounding affronted at having his abilities questioned. “But, Captain Solo, I must point out that what you are suggesting presents a considerable risk.” From the way the little droid spoke, Han could picture it wringing its tentacles at the very idea.

“Lando, c’mon! Order him to do it!”

Han could hear Lando sigh even over the comm. “All right, you crazy Corellian. Vuffi Raa, you mechanical mastermind, do what Han says!”

Moments later Vuffi Raa said, in a subdued voice, “Course laid in.”

“Punch it!” Han yelled, suiting his actions to his words. The stars striated around him for a brief second, then he found himself racing straight at the Imperial fleet!

He glanced from one side to the other, saw that Lando and Salla were still in formation with him. And, behind them and