Star Wars_ The New Jedi Order 09_ Edge of Victory 02_ Rebirth - J. Gregory Keyes [71]
“Emperor’s black bones,” he muttered.
“That was my reaction,” Gavin replied. “Now you understand why I thought you should see this.”
“Yes. I suppose I do.” Wedge straightened and knitted his hands together. He looked at Jaina. “You’ve seen this for yourself?”
“No,” Jaina admitted. “I’ve seen this same holo. But it’s pretty clear what it is.”
Wedge rubbed his forehead. “No,” he said, “it’s not unambiguous. It could be a fueling device, for instance.”
Kyp cleared his throat. “General Antilles, may I speak?”
“Go ahead,” Wedge said, grimacing.
“It may be a fueling device, of course. That doesn’t mean it isn’t a weapon. If that ship can manipulate gravity at that scale, only fools wouldn’t understand its military implications. Whatever you might say about the Yuuzhan Vong, they aren’t fools.”
“No,” Wedge said. “No, they aren’t. But until we see it used militarily—”
“It would be too late then, General,” Kyp burst out, leaping to his feet.
“Shut up and sit down,” Wedge snapped. “Let me finish what I was saying.”
Kyp’s lips remained pressed tight, and for an instant Jaina caught a glimpse of something she didn’t understand. It passed quickly.
Kyp sat down.
“You’re done, Durron? Good. What I was saying was, until we have real evidence that this is a military weapon, we can’t go to the senate with this. Maybe not even then.”
“Why?” Jaina asked.
“Because they won’t do anything,” Wedge replied. “At least not right away. And senate security is leakier than a gas siever. The Yuuzhan Vong would know within hours that we’re aware of their superweapon. Hours after that, their officials would assure Borsk Fey’lya that it’s either harmless, or something meant only to be used in their own defense. They’ll reiterate that they have no designs on the rest of our systems so long as we comply with their demands.”
“You mean like turning anyone with Jedi training over to them,” Jaina interjected.
“Right. Which brings up my final point in this round.” He looked straight at Kyp. “When they consider the source, a lot of senators would rather trust the Yuuzhan Vong than Kyp Durron.”
Kyp bore that silently. Jaina couldn’t.
“Your pardon, General, but that’s absolutely insane. Kyp’s been out there fighting while the senate has dithered, caved to Yuuzhan Vong demands, and ordered the arrest of Master Skywalker. If anyone isn’t to be trusted, it’s Fey’lya and the senate.”
She braced for another salvo from Wedge, but he smiled gently instead. “Solo, that’s what I just said.”
“It is?”
“More or less. Understand this, though—I know you don’t care for Chief Fey’lya. I don’t either. But he isn’t a traitor and he’s not stupid. He doesn’t think the Yuuzhan Vong will keep their word any more than you or I do. But he is a politician, and he thinks he can play that game better than they can. Everything he’s doing is aimed at buying time, and he’s right. Time is what we need, to understand Yuuzhan Vong technology, to digest their tactics, to strengthen our own forces. Fey’lya will never order a strike while the Yuuzhan Vong are quiescent. He’ll maintain the illusion of truce as long as he can.”
“So you’re saying there will be no military mission to take this thing out?” Gavin said, outraged.
“No official mission, no,” Wedge replied.
“Then what are we going to do?” Jaina asked.
“Whatever we do,” Wedge said, “there will be repercussions. Anyone involved in this could easily end up in the same escape pod as Luke.”
“Wouldn’t that be a shame,” Gavin drawled. “Rogue Squadron has resigned from the New Republic before. We can do it again.”
“Rogue Squadron can’t handle that,” Wedge said, waving at the frozen holo of the ship and its trail of starfire. “Can it, Durron?”
Kyp nodded reluctantly. “The Yuuzhan Vong have the Sernpidal system locked up tight. It will take real muscle to get in there. But if we take out that thing, we also take out their major shipyard. You want to buy