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By Root 235 0

outrageous chances, careening toward New Republic cruisers and then flitting back. Nolaa's space navy had performed no drills, made no concerted effort - they just shot at their enemies in a free-for-all that caused little damage but much confusion. The Diversity Alliance fleet hit their own vessels as often as they struck the New Republic ships. Jaina soared around in the Rock Dragon, seeking an opening where she could cripple one of the ships. New Republic vessels already outnumbered the enemy fleet, but Nolaa's soldiers fought anyway, recklessly.

Then hyperspace shimmered, the folds of the universe blinked-and even more ships appeared. Another battle fleet.

"Blaster bolts!" Jacen exclaimed at her shoulder. "Who's coming now?"

Jaina had a sudden dread that Nolaa Tarkona had access to additional warships hidden in reserve, another portion of her fleet armed with stolen weapons. Tenel Ka recognized the ships first.

"That is the Bornaryn fleet." The massive form of the flagship Tradewyn took the head of a phalanx as the merchant convoy, surrounded by numerous security vessels and fast fighters, plunged into the fray. The comm system crackled with Aryn Dro Thul's iron-hard voice.

"This is the Bornaryn fleet offering our assistance to the New Republic.

I understand my husband and my son are down there."

Jaina recognized another voice as Tyko Thul's.

"If you Diversity Alliance troops know what's good for you, you'll give up right now."

The New Republic ships drew together, and the Bornaryn vessels closed in like the other half of a jagged jaw, squeezing the rampant alien ships.

Turbolaser fire crisscrossed space, and Jaina added her own shots, but she didn't cause any serious damage. One of the Diversity Alliance ships, a small but heavily armored strike cruiser, erupted in space, leaving yellow afterimages on Jaina's eyes. The rest of the enemy fleet began to move away from the depot, driven out of the system. As part of the New Republic fleet peeled off in pursuit, Jaina swerved the Rock Dragon back toward the asteroid.

"That's a good start at least," Jaina said, watching the warships with satisfaction. Now they could at last go back to retrieve their friends.

Dodging turbolaser fire from the battle in space overhead, Jaina found a free airlock on the asteroid and docked the Rock Dragon again. Before Jaina had even finished powering down the cruiser's engines, Tenel Ka had opened the airlock and begun scouting out a route to the plague chambers. Grabbing a mobile comlink, Jacen flicked it on.

"Em Teedee, can you hear me? We need to know where you are so we can help you."

A Wookiee roar blasted from the tiny speaker.

"Yes, Master Jacen, you are quite audible-but, Master Lowbacca urges you to reconsider. Several plagues have already been unleashed. It's far too dangerous here! Do not attempt to open any safety interlocks. He says to set whatever explosives you have left and save yourselves. We will make every effort to find our own way out."

The little droid gave an electronic equivalent of a gulp.

"Of course, we could be doomed."

Deep in the asteroid tunnels, Zekk kept running with Lowie and Raynar.

"The Lightning Rods up here somewhere," he said. "Once we're away, we can get the New Republic fleet to open fire and blow this asteroid into powder."

Raynar sniffed, overwhelmed by grief at the death of his father. "There's nothing here worth preserving," he said. "Let's destroy it all so it can't harm anyone else."

Zekk's green eyes looked at the young man with hard understanding. They rushed down the corridor through half-opened pressure doors and barricades that had been tom from their hinges by the assassin droid.

They raced along tunnels past domed landing bays and access areas. Zekk knew the Lightning Rod was just down one of those corridors. He could almost smell the old cargo freighter's lubricant fumes and exhaust. He wanted nothing more than to be off this weapons depot. Running ahead, though, Lowie skidded to a halt and let out a roar, grabbing for his lightsaber. Zekk felt the cold tingle of Jedi