Vision of the future

Beside him, he heard Elegos gasp. 'What—?'

'Just watch,' Han cut him off, gripping the helm yoke. 'And like the man said, get ready.' The flare and dust of the explosion cleared, blown away by the expanding air from inside or snatched away by the tractor beam—

And suddenly, from the cloud of debris, a dozen TIE Interceptors burst out. It took the Imperials no more than five seconds to react to this new and completely unexpected threat. But in this case, five seconds was far too long. The TIEs swarmed close in across the hull, dodging through the frantic turbolaser fire with casual ease, systematically blasting the tractor beam emplacements.

Han watched in fascination, memories of Baron Fel's legendary flying skill flooding back. Only this time, it was a dozen Baron Fels running interference for him.

And with a jolt that cracked his teeth together, the Falcon was free.

'Hang on!' he snapped, cutting the ship around in a tight circle and pouring power to the sublight drive. The Star Destroyer's turbolasers were starting to open up behind him now as they saw their quarry escaping, and he threw the Falcon into a corkscrewing evasive maneuver as he drove hard toward the invisible edge of the cloaking shield. 'You still have the comm ready to transmit to those idiots over Bothawui?' he added, watching the rear deflector indicator warily. If the shields collapsed before they made it out, the Imperials could still win.

'I'm ready,' Elegos said. 'As soon as—'

He broke off with a gasp. Han twisted his head to the side as the familiar shape of a TIE

Interceptor suddenly appeared alongside. Reflexively, he grabbed for the weapons board—

And relaxed just in time. Emblazoned on the TIE's solar panels was the New Republic insignia. Beyond the TIE the rest of Carib's unit was forming up on his flank—

And suddenly the darkness around them vanished, and they were surrounded by stars again.

'That's it,' he said. 'Get busy with the comm.'

Elegos cleared his throat. 'I don't believe,' he said, 'that that will be necessary.' Puzzled, Han turned to look.

And caught his breath. Driving resolutely toward them from the direction of Bothawui were a group of over a dozen heavy warships.

The comm crackled. 'Han?' Lando's voice came.

'Yeah, Lando,' Han called back. 'Watch yourselves—there's an Imperial Star Destroyer under that cloaking shield.'

'Understood,' Lando said. 'Are those TIE interceptors with you?' Han smiled grimly. 'You bet they are. Can you whistle up some more help?'

'Captain Solo, this is Senator Miatamia,' a new voice spoke up. 'We are transmitting your warning to all ships allied to the Diamala and requesting their assistance.'

'Great,' Han said. 'I suggest you invite the Ishori in on this party, too. We're going to need all the help we can get.'

'Han?' Leia's voice cut in, sounding breathless and relieved and tense all at the same time. 'Han, are you all right?'

'I'm fine, hon,' he assured her. 'You still with the Ishori?'

'Yes,' she said. 'The captain's still not sure—'

She broke off abruptly. 'Leia?' Han barked.

'Never mind,' she said, a sudden grim tone in her voice. 'I don't think he has any doubts anymore.'

Han frowned, swinging the Falcon around in a tight circle and looking back. The Star Destroyer, its ambush now thwarted, had dropped its cloaking shield.

Only it wasn't just a single Star Destroyer pulling away from the comet toward the incoming fleet. It was three of them.

He took a deep breath. 'Okay,' he said. 'Now it's a fight.'