Scarlet beams lanced from the Cloudship’s laser banks, followed by a barrage of plasma torpedoes. Explosions bloomed across the hangar’s defenses, each prompting an excited gargle from the Cloud. Cyclor’s shipyards were full of fresh pickings, but Starbreaker only had piggy little eyes for one prize, the treasure that lay within Hangar Twenty-Two: the pride of the Republic science corps, the Innovator. He had enjoyed torturing the security officer who had finally given up the hangar number, but he would enjoy cracking open the Innovator’s hull even more. He had no idea what treasures would be found when his raiding party rampaged through its corridors. In fact, he barely cared. He just knew they would be valuable, not to him but to his Tempest. This would be the hit that would finally see Pan Eyta promote him to Storm, with all the glory … and riches … that came with it. Sarn licked his lips, savoring the bitter tang of his own mucus. Yes, this would be glorious.

“We have a breach,” the Fluggrian reported. Starbreaker didn’t know her name, but she answered to you, which was good enough for him.

“Then launch the fighters,” he growled, flicking a switch on his command chair that sent his voice booming through the Cloudship. “Feed the Storm, my friends. We will feast well tonight.”

The Innovator’s landing bay bucked as another salvo hit the hangar. The Nihil weren’t wasting any time. Bell raced over to his Vector, popping the canopy with a nudge from the Force just as Indeera had shown him. Ember scampered up one of the fighter’s bladelike wings, jumping into the backseat as Bell leapt up to land perfectly behind the flight controls.

He glanced over to see that Stokes was already aboard her own Vector and running through her pre-launch sequence, not that the tiny craft needed much in the way of flight checks. Each Vector was a symphony of simplicity, with little if any need for computer equipment or sensors, not when it had a Jedi behind the yoke.

Targes’s voice crackled over the comm as the Vector’s canopy clicked shut over him.

“They’ve breached the hangar. Fighters incoming.”

Bell was impressed. The Aqualish was keeping himself remarkably calm, all things considered.

“Any word from the Core?”

“We can’t get through. All transmissions are being jammed.”

“Understood. Stand by.”

Bell didn’t have to look to see if Indeera was ready. He could sense it. He fired his thrusters, the Vector streaking toward the bay doors. When she had taken over his training, Stokes had insisted that Bell fly a Vector of his own rather than copilot, a decision that suited him well. Unlike the Nova, however, he had resisted giving the tiny fighter its own name. It hadn’t seemed right. Not after Loden. The Jedi teachings were correct. No attachments. They just got in the way.