can be seen.

He certainly couldn't complete with Vader

on a physical level, nor did he wish to. But when this
dream of his became cold durasteel reality, Vader's
vaunted flagship would be yesterday's holos. Why waste
time finding and incinerating Rebel bases on various and
sundry asteroids and moons when, with a single
command, he could see an entire planet decimated?

And he would have that power, very soon now. Repairs

on the recent damage were well under way, and the crew
chiefs, directing three shifts, reported that over the course
of the next few months the original work schedule should
be reclaimed. Tarkin had every hope that the fifth-column
activity had been scotched. Certainly, anyone who came
under Vader's steely gaze who had anything to do with it
would be removed forthwith from the playing board-
permanently.

This battle station would be built-and when it was done,

it would be the ultimate power in the galaxy.

Tarkin could be patient until then.

22

MACHINE TOOL STORAGE UNIT ALPHA-FOUR,

POLAR ORBIT AROUND DESPAYRE

Ratua had no specific plan as to how he would get from

the orbiting warehouse to the battle station called the
Death Star. But he wasn't stupid. The section in which he

142