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Han leaned forward to take a closer look. Qwi agreed with Kyp’s assessment. “That light freighter doesn’t appear to be part of the attacking fleet.”

Green turbolaser bolts streaked toward the Falcon from the system patrol craft, the big strike cruiser, and the Carrack-class light cruisers. Han’s expression changed immediately. “Hey, what’s going on here? They better not blow up my ship!”

Then Daala’s Star Destroyers emerged behind them, plowing their way out of the clutches of the Maw.

“Look on the rear screens, Han!” Kyp said.

The Star Destroyers Gorgon, Basilisk, and Manticore burst out like monsters leaping from a closet, giant demons loaded with destructive weaponry from the fallen Empire.

The pell-mell mercenary forces of Kessel, already firing their laser cannons at the Falcon, ran headlong into the Imperial fleet. Some peeled sideways, turning to flee back toward the sanctuary of Kessel. Others panicked and opened fire on the Star Destroyers.

Admiral Daala tried to control the actions of her entire fleet from a single station on the bridge. Encountering the strange warships on the other side of the Maw shocked her, but she reacted quickly. “Shields up! This was a trap. The Rebels had their forces here waiting.”

How had Han Solo deceived her interrogation droid? Had the Rebels somehow found out about the Installation and sent Solo inside with a cooked-up story to lure Daala’s fleet out where they could be destroyed?

She saw the enemy fleet opening fire on her ships, but they were no match for her firepower. After all, Grand Moff Tarkin had given her enough weaponry to slag whole planets.

“Battle stations! Let’s mop up this rabble once and for all.” She pointed to the conglomeration of fighters swarming across her path. “Open fire!”

• • •

Luke and Lando spared a moment to glance at each other as the crossfire erupted around them. “This could be our chance to get out of here!” Lando said.

“Yeah, they might not even notice us leaving,” Luke said.

“But where in the universe did those Star Destroyers come from?”

Suddenly a beep sounded from the Falcon’s comm-channels, distinctive because it sounded so innocent amid the warning tones of overloading systems and failing shields. Artoo whistled, calling attention to it. Lando looked down.

“We’re getting a message over the Falcon’s private comm frequency.” Lando frowned. “How would anybody know to transmit that? How would anybody even know the Falcon’s private code?”

Then Han Solo’s angry voice burst over the speaker. “Whoever is on the Falcon better have a damned good reason for flying my ship!”

“Han! Is that you?” Lando said. A sudden thrill surged through Luke.

“Lando?” Han said after a pause. Over the speakers Chewbacca’s roar drowned out Han’s own exclamation. “What are you doing here?”

In space around them, blinding lances of light flashed as the weapons of two fleets were brought to bear. Like rival krayt dragons in mating season, the Kessel and Imperial forces slammed into each other in a total free-for-all space brawl.

“Han, listen to me. Luke is here, too,” Lando said. “We’ve got to get away from Kessel, but the Falcon’s navicomputer is disabled. We can’t make the jump into hyperspace.”

An explosion rocked them from the starboard side, but most of the Kessel fighters concentrated their firepower on the much larger threat of Daala’s Imperial fleet. Though hopelessly outmatched, the three Carrack cruisers lined up and began to blast the Basilisk.

Over the private comm channel Han spoke to someone else behind him, then answered Lando. “We can dump the coordinates to your navicomp, and we’ll fly tandem back to Coruscant.”

Lando checked the computer, saw the numbers scrolling through, and raised a fist in triumph. “Got it! Artoo, get ready to go.”

“You’d better keep my ship safe, Lando,” Han said. “On my signal.”

“You have my word, Han.” Lando’s hands flew over the Falcon’s familiar controls.

“Ready to enter hyperspace!” Han said.

The Kessel forces flanked and