managed to scrounge from a guard.

But he wasn't
prepared for this. Though only about half finished, the
Death Star still loomed like a skeletal monster. He had no
idea how far away it was; the lack of an atmosphere to
blur distant objects rendered it stark and vivid, seemingly
close enough to touch. The scale was unbelievable, and
he wouldn't have been able to tell how large it truly was
save for the Star Destroyers and massive cargo ships that
hung about the construction site, looking like so many
children's toys compared with the station itself.

Amazing.

Ratua thought, Should be no trouble at all finding places

to get lost in on something that size.

He went back to his crate, latched himself back in, and

began masticating some grain flakes.

CIVILIAN TRANSPORT VESSEL PORTMINIAN,

APPROACHING THE DEATH STAR

Rodo whistled. "Check it out," he said. Memah moved to

stand next to the much taller human. "Whoa!"

"Big sodder," Rodo agreed. He pointed. "That's a Star

Destroyer moving off over there, see?"

"What is it? Some kind of troop transport?"

Rodo shook his head. "Battle station's my guess. Too big

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