Spring Breeze

Spring Breeze
Sweet Nothings
The Abduction of Psyche
The British Are Coming
This is Blue Five," Luke announced to his mike as he nose dived his ship in theradical attempt to confuse any electronic predictors below. The gray surface of thebattle station streaked past his ports. "I'm going in." "I'm right behind you, Blue Five," a voice recognizable as Biggs's sounded inhis ears. The target in Luke's sights was as stable as that of the Imperial defenders wasevasive. Bolts flew from the tiny vessel's weapons. One started a huge fire on thedim surface below, which would burn until the crew of the station could shut off theflow of air to the damaged section. Luke's glee turned to terror as he realized he couldn't swerve his craft in time toavoid passing through the fireball of unknown composition. "Pull out, Luke, pullout!" Biggs was screaming at him. But despite commands to shift course, the automatic pressors wouldn't allow thenecessary centrifugal force. His father plunged into the expanding balls ofsuperheated gases. Then he was through and clear, on the other side. A rapid check of his controlsenabled him to relax. Passage through the intense heat had been insufficient todamage anything vital—though all four wings bore streaks of black, carbonizedtestimony to the nearness of his escape.