Maramis let loose a volley of blasts from his kiavene, hitting one of the Nihil in the shoulder. The brute, an unmasked Alzarian with a slack jaw, spun with the force of the blow but somehow stayed on his feet.

“It’s their wretched drugs,” Maramis snapped as the chancellor ushered everyone who could walk onto the walker. “The talagret don’t know when to lie down and die.”

Stellan didn’t recognize the Togruti word, but could guess its meaning.

“We’re all on board,” Soh shouted down from the walker.

Stellan reached for Kant’s saber, igniting both weapons.

“Go, Captain. Get as many as you can to safety.”

The Togruta hesitated for a minute before running to join his queen.

But they weren’t leaving Stellan alone to face the Nihil. The chancellor’s voice rang out from where she had taken up the controls herself.

“Matari. Voru. Stay with the Jedi. Protect him as he protects us.”

The targons obeyed their mistress without question, bounding from the walker to stand by Stellan, Matari to his left, Voru to his right. Stellan didn’t look to the chancellor to thank her or to see the experimental walker start to rise, but he was pleased to have the animals with him. With the targons by his side, he just might survive the day.

Elzar’s sanval keened as a laser bolt almost punched its way through her wing.

“Steady, girl,” Elzar urged his mount, not taking his eyes off a Vector that was trying to shake off not one but two marauders. He could tell from the flight pattern that the pilot was inexperienced. The Wookiee, Burryaga? It could be, and there was no sign of Nib. Force willing she was still airborne, but even if she was, the Padawan needed help now. Burry was slewing left and right, doing his best to avoid being shot down, but could neither shake his assailants nor double back to go on the offensive.

“Time to even the score. Get me nearer.”

Elzar reached for his lightsaber as the sanval’s wings beat faster, pushing them toward the skirmish.

“That’s it. That’s it.”

He lit the blade.

“Just a little closer.”

A bomb whistled past them from above, the shock causing the sanval to buck in the air, nearly throwing Elzar from her back. He pressed an open palm against the beast’s neck.

“Steady, girl. Steady.”

The sanval calmed, sweeping nearer to the firefight. Nearer. Nearer. Just near enough.