Star Wars_ Young Jedi Knights 14_ Crisis at Crystal Reef - Kevin J. Anderson [21]
Together, they all marched down to the main cargo bay. They put on breathing masks before going into the docking area, which was now open to the thin, cold air of Kessel so that the cargo ship could enter.
Nien Nunb stood beside his secondary administrator. The guards flanked him on either side, while another hovered close in the rear.
The cargo ship landed. Its markings were from a private Ord Mantell trading company. Nien Nunb thought the spice mines had dealt with that trading firm before, but couldn't be sure. This bothered him, because normally his memory for that sort of detail was quite reliable.
Perhaps his anxiety from the assassination attempt had disturbed him more than he'd suspected.
The exit hatch on the cargo ship hissed open, and the captain swung out.
He had tousled blond hair, a freckled face, and bright blue eyes that fixed instantly on the Sullustan manager. When the captain smiled, his teeth flashed so white it looked like starfire. "Nien Nunb! Boy, am I glad to meet you!"
The Sullustan stepped forward on his small feet, pleased at such recognition. The grinning blond captain pumped his small, rodentlike hand and then turned back to his cargo ship. "I knew I was coming to your place, Chief Administrator Nunb, sir, so I wanted to bring a special surprise. I hope you don't mind. Here, follow me so you can watch me open up my cargo doors. You're not going to believe this."
The captain worked the controls to release the large doors covering the craft's cargo bay. Second Administrator Kymn stepped close to Nien Nunb, as if eager to observe his surprise. The three handpicked guards they had brought along stationed themselves at strategic points in the bay.
When the cargo ship's doors cracked open, Nien Nunb saw movement.
Startled, he took half a step back. A split second later, armed mercenary fighters boiled out of the cargo ship, shouting, weapons drawn.
A nearby guard planted his blaster rifle against the Chief Administrator's back.
Feeling the cold muzzle pressing between his shoulder blades, the Sullustan squawked and raised his hands. More mercenaries charged down the ship's ramp, leaping into the cargo chamber and firing their weapons into the air. Within an instant they had created massive confusion and havoc.
Second Administrator Kymn drew his own weapon, a holdout blaster, and turned to fire a shot at one of the other guards who stood over by the communications array. The surprised man flew backward into the wall.
The remaining two guards who had come from the command control center also opened fire. Nien Nunb thought for a moment they might defend him and repel the attackers. But instead the guards-his own guards! - joined the newcomers, adding their strength to this surprising coup in the spice mines of Kessel.
Gunfire ricocheted off the walls, rattling the insulation plates. The mousy Sullustan tried to duck out of the way. He wondered how long this turmoil would go on. As he blinked and looked around, he saw that the brilliant smile on the blond pilot's face now held a wicked edge.
Nien Nunb had been deceived-completely deceived.
He had no choice but to guffender.
Continuing their investigation through the winding tunnels, Jaina and Lowie trudged after the miniaturized translating droid as he floated along following a map of the mine catacombs he had downloaded earlier.
"I've got a strong feeling that something's gone wrong," Jaina said.
"But we haven't found a thing yet."
Lowie growled his agreement, and they used their Jedi senses in an attempt to pinpoint where the crisis would occur. They emerged at the edge of a shaft that opened on the upper wall of the central control and cargo bay-just as blaster fire erupted ahead of them.
"Oh, my!" Em Teedee