Nien Nunb still had no recollection of the ship’s impending arrival, but he squinted at the screen again and saw that everything seemed to be in order. In fact, the craft had already descended through Kessel’s wispy atmosphere and was even now approaching the opening doors of the central cargo bay.
Nien Nunb blinked in surprise. Normally, such a transport would be routed to the supply annex.
Second Administrator Kymn pointed to a list of heavy items on the cargo manifest. “I felt it would be more efficient to bring him into the main loading bay where we have our best equipment to handle large cargo.”
The Sullustan mumbled his agreement, though a quiet uneasiness had begun to work in his abdomen. His instincts urged him to crawl into a dark tunnel and hide where he knew he would be safe.
Kymn touched a communicator stud in his ear, listened for a moment, and then said, “Acknowledged.” He turned to Nien Nunb with a smile. “The captain requests that you come to greet him personally. He’s something of an amateur historian of the Rebellion against the Empire, and he would be honored to meet you and get your autograph.”
The Sullustan beamed and stood up, chattering with surprise.
“Yes, I’m certain of it. He wants to shake the hand of the man who flew copilot with Lando Calrissian at the destruction of the second Death Star.”
The Chief Administrator burbled with pleasure, but insisted that they bring guards along, just in case. Kymn agreed and pointed to three of the guards in the control room, naming them specifically. “Come with us.”
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 hand-picked 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 comm and 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 surrender.
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 said. “Take cover quickly! What if a blaster bolt ricochets up here? We’re doomed!”
“Jedi Knights don’t hide in a crisis,” Jaina said. Lowie growled and reached for his lightsaber, ready to push forward, but Jaina held him back. “On the other hand, looks like an entire military force down there. We’re heavily outgunned. Wouldn’t do any good to jump into that mess without a plan. We’d be captured or killed in seconds.”
Lowie groaned his acquiescence.
“You show admirable restraint, Mistress Jaina,” Em Teedee said.
They looked down and watched helplessly. Within minutes, the mercenary soldiers had subdued all resistance with as little bloodshed as possible.
“Put the element of surprise to good use, didn’t they? A complete takeover.” Jaina narrowed her eyes and glared down at the turncoat guards and Second Administrator Kymn, knowing that this treachery must have been planned for some time. She also recalled the members of the Wing Guard on Cloud City, who had turned traitor and sold out to Black Sun. Something was definitely going on at the fringes of the New Republic—something big.
Kymn ran to the intercom on the wall, pressed the transmit button, and shouted, “Signal Alpha! Signal Alpha!” Then he went back to take his position, proudly holding his blaster pistol.
“I do believe that must be some sort of code,” Em Teedee said. Lowie grumbled for the little droid to be quiet so as not to give away their position.
Second Administrator Kymn, wearing a superior smile now, spoke quickly to the Chief Administrator. “Our allies are in place at every important station on Kessel. We have just finished taking over all the control points. I hope our people were able to assert themselves without too many deaths. The important thing is that they’re well armed and prepared to do what’s necessary. Don’t doubt it.”
Fresh soldiers continued to file out of the large cargo ship.
“It’s an entire occupation force,” Jaina whispered.
The invaders brought out heavy equipment, weapons, and supplies. Forming rows, the mercenary troops looked on attentively as a tall shadow moved inside the cargo hold. Jaina gasped with recognition as the towering man stepped into the light. Sickly pale skin contrasted with close-cropped moss-green hair. A thin metallic visor sported a dark red cyber-eye that glinted, shifting constantly from one side to the other.
“Lord Czethros!” Administrator Kymn said. “Welcome to the spice mines of Kessel. Our takeover is complete. This facility is now yours.”