“We can’t risk the shortcut,” Han says. “If we get delayed, Leia’s kidnappers will shut her up – permanently.”
The Corellian enters the coordinates for the Black Widow Nebula into the nav computer. A few minutes later, the Millennium Falcon activates its hyperdrive. In the forward viewport the stars turn red, then blur into brilliant, doppler-shifted streaks. The freighter has accelerated to hyperspace.
For the next ten standard days, Han and Chewbacca do little but sleep, work on the ship, and ask each other who Alfreda Goot might be. Try as they may, however, neither smuggler is closer to hazarding a guess as to Alfreda’s identity. She is an unknown quantity – and like all good gamblers, Han dislikes unknown quantities.
The Falcon’s hyperdrive shuts down automatically when they reach the Black Widow Nebula. Han does not look forward to crossing the sector. In actuality, the Black Widow is not a nebula – it is a globule, a dense region of interstellar dust. This region is collapsing on itself and will one day form a star. Most astronomers believe that the seed of the star already burns deep within the globule’s inky depths. Han agrees – the presence of a proto-star would explain the faint red luminescence from its murky core. It would also explain the powerful electromagnetic currents which foul all but the most basic astrogation instruments.
Han climbs into the pilot’s seat, ready to take manual control. The Black Widow is an immense field of impenetrable, inky darkness ahead. It fills the horizon; Han cannot see its edge in any direction. He can make out the beginnings of the stringy “legs” which from further away, give it the appearance of an arachnid. The only light escaping the globule is that of its red, fist-sized “heard.”
The smuggler drops his attention to the flight computer. They are approaching the globule at an angel which can be very dangerous. During their transit through the murky region, the Falcon will have to rely on gyroscopes to maintain a steady course. It is better to enter the Black Widow at a perpendicular angle to minimize adjustments and decrease transit time. He makes the adjustment.
Chewbacca groans. “What’s wrong?” Han asks, not lifting his attention from the flight computer vidscreen. It displays two wedges, one slightly larger than the other.
“Uuuugh!” Chewbacca roars.
Han looks.
A white leviathan lies dead ahead. It stands out against the nebula’s inky blackness like one of the albino whale-drakes that haunt the impenetrable depths of the Sivorian seas. Over a kilometer long and boasting more mass than some asteroids, the giant bristles with heavy weapon emplacements and astrogation equipment. Had he not seen other monsters like this one, and one that was larger, Han would not have believed such a body could be man-made. It is a Super Star Destroyer, and he is already within tractor beam range!
Han drops his attention back to the flight computer. Its vidscreen clearly shows the second wedge accelerating toward the Falcon from it’s read.
The Falcon’s audio communications receiver crackles. “Attention, Corellian freighter: prepare to be boarded for customs inspection. In front of you is the Star Destroyer flagship Executor; behind you, the Avenger. Resistance is suicidal.”
“How’d they get a fix on us so fast?” Han asks.
Chewbacca groans and points to the Falcon’s transmission activator. It’s switch is stuck open.
“I thought you fixed that!” Han exclaims, slapping the malfunctioning activator to the “closed” position.
“Aarrogh!” Chewbacca warns.
“So who’s accusing?” Han responds. “Should we run or stand by?” Han is unsure as to the wisest course. The ship carries no illegal cargo, so they will not be harassed unless the customs officer link the Millennium Falcon to the Death Star’s destruction. On the other hand, even the Empire does not use Star Destroyers for routine Customs inspections.
Han checks his flight computer again. Both Star Destroyers are probing nearby with thei tractor beams. Escape will be difficult, at best.
Han and Chewbacca drain two power cells from the Falcon’s batteries during the journey to the Black Widow Nebula. Keep track of the number of power cells they use during the adventure.
If Han runs, Click Here
If Han stands by for boarding, Click Here