Star Wars - The Last Hand by Paul Danner

Author:Paul Danner [Danner, Paul]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Published: 1997-05-12T00:08:30+00:00

Nyo couldn’t believe it. “That thing’s got a pair of quad lasers!”

“So much for talking.” Vo-Shay grumbled as he swung the Ray around to face an oncoming Headhunter.

“This ship does have weapons, right?” Nyo asked.

The gambler merely grinned and touched one of the control screens.

One of the pods on the Ray’s belly spiraled open, revealing a large triple-barreled laser cannon. The turret swung around, locking onto the approaching Headhunter.

A thunderous volley of laser bolts tracked the Z-95 as it tried to execute an evasive turn. The blasts “walked” right up the ship’s exposed starboard side, shredding the shields, and finally exploding the ship’s wing.

Without the starboard stabilizers, the Headhunter began to spin out of control, harmlessly veering off into the distance.

“Does that answer your question?” the gambler asked with a smug grin.

His smile faded when one of the Night Raider’s quad laser bolts slammed into the Ray’s port side. The impact spun the light freighter around sharply and Vo-Shay found himself fighting to keep her steady.

The other Headhunter was closing in, with all blasters blazing away mercilessly.

Unable to evade the attack, the Ray was forced to take a considerable pounding from the Z-95’s strafing run.

The ship bucked and shook under the assault, knocking the two men around in their chairs. The gambler cursed under his breath as he steadied his wounded craft.

“We just lost half our shields!” Nyo cried out in alarm.

Acting as if he didn’t hear, an enraged Vo-Shay brought the Ray into a hard bootlegger’s turn that sent a structural groan through the ship. He closed the distance with impossible speed. Nyo felt as if a giant invisible hand was pressing against his chest. “I didn’t know freighters could move this fast.”

“Most can’t. This one can.”

Thanks to Vo-Shay’s expert piloting, the Ray mirrored every last maneuver the Headhunter executed. It was as if the two pilots were of one mind. No matter what tactic it tried, the Z-95 could not shake off the larger ship. A sustained burst of heavy blaster fire quickly turned the Headhunter into a flaming starburst.

“Gotcha!” Vo-Shay shouted.

“And I got you,” came Yarrku’s filtered voice over the comlink. It was followed by another bone-jarring impact as another quad laser blast found its mark.

“Shields are gone,” Nyo cried out in alarm. “And the hyperdrive’s been damaged.”

The gambler quietly brought the Ray around to face the Night Raider. The big Ghtroc freighter hung there in space, waiting, with its big quad lasers brought to bear. The two idle ships looked like gunfighters, each one waiting for the other to draw…

Yarrku’s voice broke the silence. “Your shields are gone. Another hit from my weapons and you’ll be nothing but debris. Do the sensible thing and hand over the money. Before it’s too late.”

“So we give you the credits and you’ll leave us alone?” Vo-Shay asked.

“You have my word.”

He’s lying.

Vo-Shay and Nyo spoke at the same time. “I know.” The two men exchanged a quick look, though Nyo seemed more than a bit bewildered.

The gambler keyed the comlink. “Deal.

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