The pause lasts a tense second. Then the Falcon’s laser cannons flare and four energy bolts lash out. A millisecond later, an orange streak brightens the emptiness of space.
“Is that shooting or what!” Han exclaims.
In answer, the vast darkness ahead of the Falcon’s cockpit lights as if a small sun has gone nova. Han drops his gaze to the flight computer. It shows no TIEs within a thousand kilometers, but the Eradicator has reached maximum effective range and is blanketing several cubic kilometers of space with turbolaser fire. Han wishes that a star had gone nova – he can deal with that!
“Erruuugh,” suggests Chewbacca.
“Hiding’s not a bad idea,” Han agrees.