Rogue Squadron (4 page)

“He is that, but today he’s not the
most
dangerous pilot. That’s you.” She linked her other arm through Nawara’s right elbow. “So, Corran, you forget you were a Security officer and, Nawara, you forget you were a lawyer and let this thing drop. Today we’re all pilots, we’re all on the same side”—she smiled sweetly—“and the man who beat the
Redemption
scenario is about to make good on all those dinner and drink promises he made to talk his wingmates into helping him win.”

2

Wedge Antilles saluted Admiral Ackbar and held the salute until the Mon Calamari returned it. “Thank you for seeing me, sir.”

“It is always my pleasure to see you, Commander Antilles.” Without moving his head, Ackbar glanced with one eye toward the other man standing in his office. “General Salm and I were just discussing the impact of having Rogue Squadron back in the fleet. He feels you are all but ready to go. The unit roster is impressive.”

The brown-haired fighter pilot nodded. “Yes, sir. I wanted to speak to you about the roster, if I could, sir.” Wedge saw Salm’s face close up. “There have been changes made to the roster without my consultation.”

Salm turned away from the floating blue globe hanging in the corner and clasped his hands behind his back. “There are circumstances beyond your control that made those changes necessary, Commander Antilles.”

“I’m aware of that, sir. Lieutenants Hobbie Klivan and Wes Janson will do well bringing new
training squadrons along.”
I didn’t want to lose them, but that was a battle I lost a
long
time ago
. “And I understand why half the slots in my squadron are going to political appointees …”

Ackbar’s head came up. “But you do not approve?”

Wedge bit back a sharp comment. “Admiral, I’ve spent a good deal of the two and a half years since the Emperor died touring worlds new to the Alliance because someone decided our new allies needed to see we had heroes—that we weren’t all the bandits the Empire made us out to be. I gave speeches, I kissed babies, I had holograms taken with more world leaders than I ever knew existed. I was there as our propaganda machine built Rogue Squadron up into the needle that exploded the Emperor’s Death Star balloons.”

The human General in command of the Rebellion’s starfighter training center at Folor smiled coolly. “Then you
do
understand why it is important that our allies have representatives within our most celebrated squadron.”

“Yes, but
I
know the difference between a real fighter squadron and the monster you’ve made Rogue Squadron out to be. The Empire isn’t going to lie down and die just because they see a dozen ships jump into a system.”

“Of course not.”

“But, General,
that’s
what our diplomatic corps is suggesting. The Bothans want a pilot in Rogue Squadron because
they
found the second Death Star and
we
killed it. And I understand why having
two
Thyferrans is important—we have to appease the two conglomerates that control bacta production …”

Ackbar held up a webbed hand. “Commander, a question to the point is this: Are the pilots selected inferior to other candidates?”

“No, sir, but …”

“But?”

Wedge took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
Luke would be telling me that anger isn’t good. He’s right, because anger won’t get me any closer to what I want
. “Admiral, I’m commanding a fighter squadron. We’re an elite squadron and the only thing I want to change about it is our survival rate. You’ve let me have the pick of the new pilots coming over to us, and I’ve got a fine group of them. With some more training I think I can make them into the sort of unit that
will
strike terror into Imperial hearts. And,” he added, nodding at General Salm, “I concur with the selection of all the pilots listed on the roster you have, except for two—Rogue Five and my Executive Officer.”

“Lieutenant Deegan is an excellent pilot.”

“Agreed, General, but he’s from Corellia, the same as me and Corran Horn. It strikes me that having Corellia overrepresented in Rogue Squadron is not politically wise.”

One of Ackbar’s eyes shifted slightly. “You have someone in mind to replace him?”

Wedge nodded. “I’d like to use Gavin Darklighter.”

Salm shook his head adamantly. “He’s just a Tatooine farm boy who thinks the ability to shoot womp rats from a speeder can make him a hero.”

“Begging your pardon, sir, but Luke Skywalker was just a Tatooine farm boy whose ability to shoot womp rats from a speeder
did
make him a hero.”

The General snarled at Wedge’s riposte. “You can’t mean to suggest this Darklighter has Commander Skywalker’s control of the Force.”

“I don’t know about that, sir, but I
do
know Gavin has every bit as much heart as Luke does.” Wedge turned toward the Mon Calamari. “Gavin
had a cousin, Biggs, who was with Luke and me in the trench at Yavin. He stayed with Luke when I was ordered to pull out. Biggs died there. Gavin came to me and asked to join
my
squadron.”

“What Commander Antilles is
not
telling you, Admiral, is that Gavin Darklighter is only sixteen years old. He’s a child.”

“You couldn’t tell it by looking at him.”

Ackbar’s barbels quivered. “Forgive me, gentlemen, but determining a human’s age by visual clues is a skill that has long since eluded me. General Salm’s point is well taken, however. This Darklighter
is
rather young.”

“Is the Admiral suggesting that someone, somewhere within the Alliance,
won’t
take Gavin in when we need to put someone in an X-wing cockpit? I don’t think Commander Varth would balk at bringing Gavin on board.”

“That may be true, Commander Antilles, but then Commander Varth is far more successful at keeping his pilots alive than you are.” Ackbar’s even tone kept the remark away from being a stinging rebuke, but not by much. “And, yes, I know Commander Varth has never had to face a Death Star.”

Rogue Squadron’s leader frowned. “Sir, Gavin came to me because Biggs and I were friends. I feel an obligation to him. Even General Salm will agree that Gavin’s test scores are very good—he’ll do his
Redemption
scenario in three days and I expect his scores there will measure up. I want to pair Gavin with the Shistavanen, Shiel. I think they’ll work well together.” He opened his hands. “Gavin’s all alone and looking for a new home. Let me put him in Rogue Squadron.”

Ackbar looked at Salm. “Aside from this nebulous age problem, you do not disagree with this selection?”

Salm looked at Wedge and bowed his head. “In
this
case—if Darklighter does well in his
Redemption
trial—I see no problem with letting Commander Antilles have his way.”

Which means my choice for XO gets opposed fully—not that I expected less.
“You are most kind, General.”

Ackbar’s mouth opened in the Mon Calamari imitation of a smile. “Spoken with General Solo’s degree of sarcasm, I believe.”

“I’m sorry, sir.” Wedge smiled, then clasped his hands at the small of his back. “I would also hope the General would see his way clear to letting me choose my own Executive Officer.”

The Admiral looked at his starfighter commander. “Who is presently in that position?”

“Rogue Squadron’s XO is Captain Aril Nunb. She is the sister of Nien Nunb, one of the
other
heroes of Endor. She is every bit as skilled a pilot as her brother and worked extensively with him during his smuggling days. Sullust is providing us aid and having her in Rogue Squadron would definitely increase support from the SoroSuub government.”

“Commander, do you quarrel with this assessment?”

Wedge shook his head. “No, sir, not at all.”

“Then the problem is …?”

“She’s a wonderful pilot, Admiral, and I’d love to have her in my squadron, but
not
as my XO. In that position I need someone who can help train my pilots. What Aril does, what her brother does, is intuitive to them. They can’t teach it to others. As my XO she’d be frustrated, my pilots would be frustrated, and I’d have chaos to deal with.”

“And you have another candidate in mind?”

“Yes, sir.” Wedge looked at General Salm and braced for his reaction. “I want Tycho Celchu.”

“Absolutely not!” The explosion Wedge had expected from Salm did not disappoint him. “Admiral Ackbar, under no circumstances will I allow Celchu to be anywhere near an active duty squadron. Just because he isn’t in prison is no reason for me to want him in my command.”

“Prison!” Wedge’s jaw shot open. “The man hasn’t done anything that warrants confinement.”

“He cannot be trusted.”

“I believe he can.”

“Come on, Antilles, you know what he’s been through.”

“What I
know
, General, is this: Tycho Celchu is a hero—much more of a hero than I am. On Hoth he fought as fiercely as anyone and at Endor he piloted an A-wing that led a bunch of TIE fighters on a merry chase through the Death Star. He took them off our backs while Lando and I went in and blew the installation’s reactor. He fought at Bakura and went on subsequent missions with the squadron, then volunteered, General,
volunteered
to fly a captured TIE fighter on a covert mission to Coruscant. He got captured. He escaped. That’s it.”

“That’s all you want to see, Antilles.”

“Meaning?”

“You say he escaped.” Salm’s face hardened into a steel mask. “It could be they
let him go
.”

“Sure, just like they let him go at Endor.” Wedge grimaced, doing his best to banish the anger he felt growing in him. “General, you’re fighting ghosts.”

Salm nodded curtly. “You’re right, I’m fighting to prevent you and your people from becoming ghosts.”

“Well, so am I, and having Tycho with us to train my people will give them the best chance of survival possible.”

Salm tossed his hands up in disgust and looked
at Admiral Ackbar. “You see, he won’t listen to reason. He knows Captain Celchu is a threat, but he won’t let himself see it.”

“I’ll listen to reason, sir, when I see the product of some reasoning.”

Ackbar held up his hands. “Gentlemen, please. Commander Antilles, you must admit that General Salm’s concerns are valid. Perhaps if there were a way to alleviate some of them, an accommodation could be reached.”

“I thought of that, sir, and I’ve spoken with Captain Celchu about it.” Wedge started ticking points off on his fingers. “Tycho has agreed to fly a Z-95 Headhunter in our training exercises, with the lasers powered down so they can only paint a target, not hurt it. He’s agreed to have a destruct device installed in the starfighter so that if he goes to ram anything or goes outside spacelanes to which he is assigned, he can be destroyed by remote. When not flying he has agreed to remain under house arrest unless accompanied by Alliance Security or members of the squadron. He’s agreed to undergo interrogation as needed, to have all his computer files and correspondence open to examination, and is even willing to have us choose what he eats, when, and where.”

Salm marched over and placed himself between Wedge and the Mon Calamari Admiral. “This is all well and good, and might even be effective, but we can’t afford the risk.”

Ackbar blinked his eyes slowly. “Captain Celchu has agreed to these conditions?”

Wedge nodded. “He’s no different from you, Admiral—he’s a warrior. What he knows, what he can teach, will keep pilots alive. Of course, there’s no way General Salm will ever let him fly in combat again.”

“
That
can be etched in transparisteel.”

“So serving as an instructor is the only way he can fight back. You have to give him this chance.”

Ackbar activated the small comlink clipped to his uniform’s collar. “Lieutenant Filla, please find Captain Celchu and bring him to me.” The Mon Calamari looked up at Wedge. “Where is he currently?”

Wedge looked down at the deck. “He should be in the simulator complex.”

“He’s
where?!
” Salm’s face went purple.

“You’ll find him in the simulator complex, Lieutenant. Bring him here immediately.” Ackbar turned the comlink off. “The simulator complex?”

“It was Horn’s turn leading the
Redemption
scenario. Tycho knows how to fly a TIE better than most pilots, so I decided to have him fly against Horn.”

Ackbar’s lip fringe twitched. “You’ve taken certain liberties concerning Captain Celchu already, it seems, Commander.”

“Yes, sir, but nothing that isn’t necessary to make my pilots the best. I’m being prudent in this, I think.”

“The most prudent course, Commander—if you cared to protect the rest of the trainees here, not just your own—would have been to keep Captain Celchu out of the simulator facility entirely!” Salm crossed his arms over his chest. “You may be a hero of the New Republic, but that doesn’t give you any authorization to jeopardize our security.”

Perhaps having Tycho fly
today
was a bit premature
. Wedge glanced down penitently. “I stand corrected, sir.”

Ackbar broke the uneasy silence following Wedge’s admission. “What is done is done. Now using Captain Celchu in the scenario would have made it that much more difficult, would it not?”

A smile creeping back on his face, Wedge nodded. “Yes, sir—which is what I wanted. Horn is good, very good, and the trio of pilots flying on his side in the exercise are not bad, either. Overall, Horn or Bror Jace, the Thyferran, are the best pilots in the whole group. Jace is arrogant, which gets under Horn’s skin and keeps him working hard. Horn, on the other hand, is impatient. That’ll get him killed and the only way to make that apparent to him is by having someone shoot him up in exercises. Tycho can do that.”

The door to Ackbar’s office opened and a female Rebel officer led a pilot in a black flight suit into the room. “Admiral, this is Captain Celchu.”

Tycho snapped to attention. “Reporting as ordered, sir.”