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“Look here.” Mako used a laser pointer to indicate the small, holographic representations of the ships in question. “We’ve 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, they’ll be coming out of hyperspace in a shell formation to surround Nar Shaddaa. Then we’ve got two recon line vessels, that’ll 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. That’s at least forty-four TIEs we’re going to have to deal with.”

The members of Mako’s “High Command” looked at each other with worried expressions. “Smuggler’s 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, don’t forget. They’re 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 we’re still here is that we’re not still doing it. TIE fighter pilots are really, really good … but that doesn’t keep most of ’em from winding up really, really dead.”

“Okay,” Lando spoke up, “so we know what the Imperial force is, and how they’re going to approach us. How do we fight back against them, using freighters and a few one-man fighters like the one Roa’s been building?”

Everyone turned to look at the senior smuggler. “Yeah, I’ve almost finished work on her,” Roa said. “She’s 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 Smuggler’s Moon who lived a completely legitimate life, earning an honest credit for an honest day’s 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, he’d 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.

“You’re planning to fly Lwyll against the TIEs?” Mako asked. “What does the real Lwyll have to say about that?”

Roa sighed, and then gave his friends a rueful grin. “Believe me, she had plenty to say. You guys aren’t going to believe this … but last night I up and asked Lwyll to marry me.”

General murmurs of surprise ran around the table. “Don’t keep us in suspense,” Blue cried, “what did she say?”

“She said ‘no,’ ” Roa said. The senior smuggler’s broad, open features sagged. “She said she didn’t want to wind up a widow.”

“Can’t blame her for that,” Lando said. None of the smugglers in the room was married, and it was no accident. Living on 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 didn’t understand Wookiee. “Roa, Chewie says that if you were a Wookiee, it’d be time for you to settle down. He thinks Lwyll is too good to lose. He likes her.”

Roa grinned. “He’s right. She’s too good to lose. That’s 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 smuggler, knowing