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“Admiral!” the lieutenant at the sensor station cried. “I’ve detected an intruder!”

A tiny ship streaked across the bow of the Gorgon, blasting at them with puny laser strikes.

“What?” Daala said, turning. “Viewscreen,” she called, “Enhance.”

A shimmering image of Captain Mullinore from the Basilisk appeared at the comm station beside her. “Admiral, we have just detected the Sun Crusher,” he said. “Shall we engage?”

“The Sun Crusher!” Daala took a second to accept the information. She could not answer before the small ship flitted in front of the Gorgon’s bridge tower again, blasting at the turbolaser batteries. She instantly recognized the thorn-shaped ship, the tiny superweapon bristling with defensive laser turrets. But the Sun Crusher’s lasers had too little power to cause damage to a Star Destroyer.

“Launch two TIE squadrons,” Daala said, feeling a new excitement. “I want the Sun Crusher recaptured. This changes everything in our strategy against the New Republic.”

The stormtroopers, already keyed up from a day’s worth of red-alert status, swarmed across the decks. Moments later the bottom bay of the Gorgon opened and spewed out a hundred plane-winged TIE fighters soaring through the curling gas of the nebula.

Daala watched the small battle unfold. The Sun Crusher had been designed to be extremely swift and maneuverable. With its indestructible quantum armor, the superweapon seemed to laugh at the attack she sent against it. It was only a matter of time, though.

“But why does he attack us at all?” Daala said, tapping black-gloved fingers on the bridge railing. “Something’s wrong here. He provoked us, but he has no way of causing us damage. Why did he call attention to himself,” she mused, “and how did he find us here?”

Commander Kratas answered her, though she had been muttering to herself. “I can’t speculate on that, Admiral.”

“Bring the Star Destroyers about,” she said. “Lock a tractor beam on the Sun Crusher next time it passes.”

“The Sun Crusher’s pilot is maneuvering at speeds much too high for us to be certain of a firm lock,” Kratas said.

Daala glared at him. “Does that mean you’re unable to try?”

“No, Admiral.” Kratas turned and clapped his hands, directing the tactical officers on the bridge. “You heard the Admiral! Set to it immediately.”

“Admiral, the Sun Crusher is signaling us,” the comm officer said. “Voice-only transmission.”

Daala whirled. “Put the pilot on.”

With a crackle the thin voice of a mere boy echoed through the Gorgon’s command center. “Admiral Daala, I’m Kyp Durron—remember me? I hope so. You put me under a death sentence. That made quite an impression on me. I hope it made some sort of impression on you.”

Daala recalled the wiry, dark-haired youth who had been taken prisoner along with the Rebels who had blundered into the Maw Installation. She motioned for the comm officer to open a channel.

“Kyp Durron, if you surrender immediately and deliver the Sun Crusher intact, we will take you to the planet of your choice. You can be free. Don’t be foolish.”

“Not a chance, Admiral.” Kyp laughed at her. “I’m thumbing my nose at your supposed Imperial superiority. I’ll take my chances.” He cut off the transmission and streaked by again, firing darts of laser energy that bounced harmlessly off the shielded hull of the Star Destroyer.

“Tractor-beam lock—” the tactical officer said, “… lost it.”

“Admiral!” the sensor chief broke in, his voice filled with urgency. “I’m picking up unusual readings from the star cluster. The blue giants are fluctuating, all seven of them, I’ve never seen anything like—”

Daala froze. Her mouth dropped open in horror as she suddenly realized the terrible plan this … this boy had put into effect against her fleet.

“Full about!” she shouted. “One hundred eighty degrees, maximum speed. Get out of the nebula, now!”

“But, Admiral—?” Commander Kratas said.

“He’s used the Sun Crusher!” she screamed. “The stars are going to explode! He’s just trying to stall us here so we