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Another advantage was that X-wing shields repelled the small asteroids. Yuuzhan Vong voids actually attracted them. It wasn’t a huge problem for the Yuuzhan Vong, because any space rock small enough to be attracted by the pinpoint singularities could also be eaten, but if they hit a big one, the singularities sometimes stuck them to it. So the Twins flew tight, dodging in and out, letting the skips eliminate themselves.

Jaina’s optimism grew stronger, but she knew the victory was more illusion than anything else. They still had to reach the Golan station and bring it on-line—if they could outrun the twenty skips still after them, which didn’t seem likely, even with them slowing down to get through the asteroids. If they really pushed it, they might get there with a few seconds to spare, which wouldn’t give them time to do much of anything with the station, assuming the antique still worked. It was nowhere near the shipyard, so it probably hadn’t been used since the days of the Empire. The guns and everything else useful had likely been scavenged while she was still in diapers.

She clicked her comm. “Okay, Twins, here’s what we’re going to do. Our primary objectives were to see if the station is operational and to bring it on-line if it was. I don’t think General Antilles figured on half the fleet following us out here, though. We’re going to get there a few seconds ahead of them. The rest of you will cover me while I enter the docking bay, then you’re going to punch to the outer system.”

“Are you saying we’re supposed to leave you, Sticks?”

“With any luck, they won’t see me drop in. They’ll think I jumped with the rest of you.”

“With all due respect, Colonel, that’s crazy,” Two said.

“General Antilles needs to know the status of this station, and he needs to know soon. If any of you can think of a better plan, tell me now.”

“Same plan, but one of us stays behind,” Three said. “It doesn’t make sense it being you, Colonel.”

It makes plenty of sense, Jaina thought. I won’t send any of you on what’s probably a suicide mission.

She didn’t say that, though.

“It’s the way it’s happening,” Jaina said. “The last thing I need right now is an argument.”

“Yes, Colonel. Understood.”

She had it about right—the skips were just catching up when they reached the station. The others fell into combat formations. She pretended to, and even squeezed off a couple of shots before making her run for the docking bay. She’d picked up a couple of friends by then, however. Three was right behind them, but there were four skips on her. Jaina’s heart sank. It wasn’t going to work. Even if she made the docking bay, they were going to notice.

She was grimly reaching to turn when her cockpit strobed in a flash of green light, and another.

In her headpiece, Twins Eight and Nine were cheering.

Jaina made her turn and saw why. Gigantic beams of coherent light were pumping from the station’s turrets, slagging skips as if they were practice targets.

Better yet, she saw the sudden blue sheen of shields.

“Colonel,” Three said, “it’s just a hunch, but I’d say you can tell General Antilles the station is operational.”

TWENTY-FIVE

In the night, Nom Anor felt the villip move against his chest, signaling an incoming communication. He lay quietly, wondering if he could leave the rock shelter unobserved. The Jedi slept lightly, and so did Harrar—besides, despite the fact that they hadn’t seen any animals more dangerous than a dhillith, the older Jedi insisted on keeping watches, and Tahiri was on watch at the moment. His own shift would begin in a few hours—why couldn’t the signal have come then?

Cursing silently, he lay there until the villip ceased quivering, but did not sleep again. Shimrra did not like to be ignored or delayed, and excuses rarely got one far with the Supreme Overlord. He felt his last, best chance at reconciliation slipping from him.

If he could kill Tahiri without waking the others …

Yes, and if a wish was a dha’eh, the maw luur would all be choked.

So he stayed there, trying to keep his muscles from twitching.