by Claudia Gray
Nash walked toward the open mouth of the docking bay. Against his skin he felt the faint tingle of the energy shield that maintained atmospheric pressure—a sign he was standing too close. He remained near the edge anyway, the better to behold the sight before him.
Within the massive cloud of the Queluhan Nebula, hidden deep inside the glowing trails of ionized gas that confounded enemy sensors, waited the Imperial Starfleet. While the rebel pundits confidently predicted the Empire’s disappearance and surrender—believed them divided against each other and helpless—they were instead rejoining forces and growing stronger than before.
In Nash’s opinion, it had taken them too long to coalesce as a united front again; infighting had allowed the rebels to gain territory they could not have hoped to contest otherwise. Now, however, the Imperial Starfleet had reestablished a hierarchy of command. They had developed a long-term strategy. The old factionalism had been swept away, and at last they stood together, united again.
He liked to think Ciena Ree had something to do with that. Perhaps that was only sentiment, but there was no denying that her selfless act had inspired them all.
You reminded us what discipline truly means, Nash thought. You reminded us that no price is too great to pay for victory.
Before him, in the blue-and-violet glow of the nebula, he could see at least ten Star Destroyers and even more light cruisers. Each housed countless TIE fighters, to be manned largely by the new conscripts; training had to be faster and harsher these days, but the pilots were shaping up nicely. The Imperial Starfleet might not be as large as it had once been, but Nash thought they might emerge even stronger.
And this time, they would stop at nothing until the Rebellion had been permanently crushed. Thane and the others would pay for forcing Ciena to sacrifice her own life. They’d pay for everything.
Nash whispered, “You will be avenged—when the Empire rises again.”
THE END
CLAUDIA GRAY is the New York Times best-selling writer of numerous novels for young adults, including the science-fiction Firebird trilogy, beginning with A Thousand Pieces of You, and the paranormal Evernight series. She has been a Star Wars fan since she turned seven, and she now insists that transforming her childhood closet into an X-wing simulator was vital career preparation.
