Star Wars_ Young Jedi Knights 10_ Jedi Bounty - Kevin J. Anderson [15]
As other recruits rushed about to take care of exporting the next shipment, Hovrak clasped his clawed hands behind his back. Full of his responsibilities for Nolaa Tarkona, he maintained a rigidly upright posture and marched on an inspection tour around the ore hauler.
He scrutinized the front cargo pods, the large metal-walled bays, the rear propulsion systems.
The battered ship was much the worse for wear, but the Diversity Alliance couldn't be choosy... and this ore hauler had served Nolaa Tarkona well.
Soon, when humans were gone from the galaxy, the other alien races would share in a great deal of wealth, Hovrak mused. For now, though, they would have to bide their time, waiting until Nolaa's plans came to fruition.
As he rounded to the port side of the ancient hauler, though, Hovrak's daydreams were interrupted.
He came to an abrupt halt as he saw a small craft attached to the side of one of the tetrahedral cargo bays. An intruder! Someone had slipped through the Diversity Alliance's orbital defenses!
Hovrak shouted to sound the alarm. Docking-bay workers poked their heads out to see the cause of the commotion. The wolfman marched around the grotto, shouting for guards.
Corrsk, the Trandoshan killer, as well as four more Gamorrean guards charged into the starship grotto. The guards drew their weapons, in search of something to shoot. With a bulky scaled paw, Corrsk knocked them aside, wanting to score the kill himself.
Hovrak roared, and the security forces came around to the back of the automated ore hauler.
The wolfman stood tall to glower at the unexpected ship attached to the hull. "That's a passenger cruiser," he said, and sniffed the air.
"A Hapan design, I believe. I want to get to the bottom of this."
Corrsk looked suspicious, narrowing his huge slitted eyes. "Prepare your weapons," he growled at the guards.
Hovrak marched over to an access ladder and climbed up to where the strange craft clung to the ore hauler. It had been magnetically attached.
"Let's get inside," he said, then stood back, not wanting to get his uniform dirty.
The Trandoshan pushed his way forward and found the access hatch. He worked the priority override designed into the airlock, and the Hapan cruiser opened with a hiss as the pressures equalized. Cold, stale air rich with human scent filled Hovrak's nostrils. Bristling with anger, he sniffed, and sniffed again as he crawled inside.
The other guards drew their blasters as they dropped down into the pilot compartment, then marched toward the back passenger seats.
But they found no one. The ship was empty.
Hovrak went to the cockpit console and called up the data he could find.
The rest was encrypted. "This ship is called Rock Dragon, a small passenger cruiser... abandoned, it seems. Sent to us for salvage." He curled back his lips to bare his fangs.
The Trandoshan poked through the ship, his nostrils flaring. "I smell humans," he said. "Kill humans."
But though Hovrak and the Gamorreans and Corrsk scoured the small passenger cruiser, they found no secret compartments--and no sign of any human passengers.
"Very well," Hovrak said, "we'll consider it a gift. Arrange to have the ship removed to the small-craft bay. We can put it to use." He climbed out of the hatch, then bellowed down to the other workers. "Go get the ryll cargo containers! We need to bring the ore up and get this ship launched again."
The Gamorreans and Corrsk stalked across the grotto toward the smallcraft bay, where they could fetch a mechanic to disconnect the Rock Dragon and pilot the cruiser to safe storage.
Hovrak leaped down and went to report. Nolaa Tarkona ought to know about this ship. Perhaps she'd have some suggestions on how best to use it.
As he left the starship grotto, Hovrak saw the Trandoshan standing at the edge of the grotto.
Corrsk sniffed the air again, looking around