• Choose a category
• All
• Classic-Fiction

“Wave doors are closing,” said a maddeningly calm Calamarian voice through the speaker system. “All citizens take shelter immediately. Repeat, wave doors are closing.”

Most of the other sea vehicles had disappeared inside the various openings around the hull of Foamwander City. Those who could not make it to the doors abandoned their craft and dived overboard to swim down to submerged entryways.

Many wave doors had already clamped shut like diagonal mouths. Leia aimed for one of the remaining openings and punched the wavespeeder’s accelerator. The lurch pressed all three of them back against their padded seats.

Overhead, like a flock of razor-winged carrion birds, came an entire squadron of TIE fighters and TIE bombers. They swooped down in a steep descent with a roaring howl of their Twin Ion Engines.

The TIE bombers released glowing energy packets that exploded in the sea, sending out shock waves and foam and spray. TIE fighters roared over Foamwander City, strafing with their laser cannons. Lances of green light etched smoldering damage into the city shell.

One of the shock waves tossed a wall of water at Leia’s wavespeeder. She fought for control but did not slow down, keeping her eyes fixed on the closing wave doors. If they didn’t make it through the gap, they would be helpless out on the water, ready targets for the Imperial bombardment.

Ackbar said, “We left a squadron of B-wing fighters to defend the orbiting shipyards. Where are they? I have to learn what’s happening up there.”

Cilghal maintained a quiet, steady voice. “Perhaps they are otherwise occupied.”

“Hang on!” Leia said, and fired emergency thrusters.

The wavespeeder lifted another meter above the surface of the ocean as it flew in a last-ditch effort to get through the closing gap. Leia ducked as the diagonal metal wave doors ground closer and closer.…

The bottom layer of plasteel plating scraped off the wavespeeder as Leia struck the sharp edge of the heavy door; then they shot into the protected green-lit tunnel. With the vehicle traveling at such high speed, even that minor impact was enough to send them spinning. Leia wrestled with the controls, trying to slow the vehicle as it caromed off one wall and then the opposite wall, sending out showers of sparks. Finally it ground to a halt. Behind them, with a thunderous echo, the wave doors slammed shut.

Pausing only long enough to confirm that they were all unharmed, Leia picked her way out of the wreckage. Through the thick armor of the floating city she heard the repeated thuds of explosions from TIE bombers and the screams from firing laser cannons.

Ackbar stepped away from the wreckage and turned to Cilghal. “Take me to the control center immediately. I want to be linked with the orbital defense forces.” He already looked more alive, more alert. “If I can see what’s going on, maybe I can figure out a way to help us all.”

“Yes, Admiral,” Cilghal said. Leia wondered if she had used his rank intentionally.

Flashing lights and alarm sirens echoed as they hurried through the serpentine corridors. Groups of Quarren rushed past, burbling exclamations through their tentacled faces as they scrambled down access shafts to the underwater levels. Leia had no doubt they were abandoning the city structure, swimming down to where they thought they were safe.

When Cilghal reached a turbolift door, other Calamarians flocked to it, trying to get to the city’s protected inner chambers. Cilghal raised her voice, the first time Leia had heard her do so. “Make way for Admiral Ackbar! We must get to Central Command.

“Ackbar,” several Calamarians echoed, stepping aside to allow him passage. “Admiral Ackbar!”

Ackbar seemed taller now, without the haunted look he had worn since the crash on Vortex. Leia knew that all Calamarians remembered the nightmare of Imperial attacks—but if anyone could mount a successful defense with what little resources they had, it would be Ackbar.

After the turbolift spilled them out onto the proper level, Ambassador Cilghal led the way. She used