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“He was not told the attack was a feint,” Lensi said.

“No one was!” Raf exploded. “We were all in the dark.”

“That’s why it worked, Lensi,” Jaina said. “Yuuzhan Vong intelligence is good. Wedge had to make the buildup look like it was aimed at Duro, and he had to make the attack there look convincing.”

“Duro was the more lightly occupied,” Lensi said. “We could have taken Duro. We were promised this.” His face tightened into an even flatter mask. “We were used.”

“Such is war,” Jag said. “Fondor was considered the more strategic target. The liberation of Duro may come next, it may not.” He nodded his head around the crowded room. “Many of the pilots here have lost a homeworld to the Vong. You think you’re alone? You think every one of them wouldn’t prioritize the liberation of their homeworld over every other, if they were given the choice? War isn’t fought on the basis of sentiment and desire. Battles must accomplish tactical goals.”

“Your ‘tactical goals’ see many of my people dead today.”

“Because they disobeyed orders,” Jag snapped. “They signed on under General Antilles. If they had paid attention to him, most if not all of them would still be alive. If you want to know who betrayed your people to death, look to the commander who broke ranks.”

“We aren’t children,” Lensi persisted. “We should have been told.”

Jag started to speak again, but Jaina cut in.

“Maybe,” she said. “In hindsight, maybe. Or maybe we would all be dead now.” She softened her voice. “You were a good wingmate at Sernpidal. I know you’ve done well with Rogue Squadron since I left. We’re going to win this war. We’re going to win back Duro. But only if enough of us keep fighting.” She picked up the patch and tossed it to him. Reflexively, he caught it. “You have to do what your conscience dictates.”

Lensi hesitated, looking at the patch. “Colonel Solo,” he said, “I was there, after Sernpidal, when you slapped Kyp Durron for lying to us. You know what it feels like to be betrayed, to fight without knowing what you’re really fighting for.”

She raised her eyes and regarded him steadily. “I know what lots of things feel like,” she said. “And you know what? I’m still fighting. I’m going to keep fighting until there isn’t a single threat left in this galaxy. You think you’re the only person who has lost something in this war? Grow up, Lensi.”

The Duros regarded her for another long moment.

“Did you know?” he asked.

“No. But if I had, I wouldn’t have told anyone. General Antilles did the right thing.”

Lensi nodded curtly, turned, and left. He still had the insignia with him.

“General Antilles?”

Wedge stopped tapping his fingers on the Kashyyyk-wood conference table and acknowledged the heavy-jowled Sullustan.

“Yes, Admiral Sovv?” he said.

“What is your opinion on the matter?”

“We should have told Col,” Wedge said, bluntly. “I should have broken orders and told him myself. He had a right to know exactly what he was getting his people into.”

“Under perfect circumstances, yes,” Admiral Kre’fey said. “But the circumstances were far from perfect. Bothan intelligence had—has—information that the Yuuzhan Vong have a spy placed high in the command structure of the Duros government-in-exile. Indeed, it was through that leak that the Yuuzhan Vong ‘discovered’ our plans to invade the Duro system—as we planned.”

“Col might have been brought in,” Wedge replied. “He was a hothead, but he could be trusted with a secret.”

“Perhaps,” the white-furred Bothan replied, “perhaps not. As it is, our plan was fulfilled.”

“With more losses than necessary.”

“Still fewer than projected,” General Garm Bel Iblis said, from across the table. “The battle at Fondor was a total rout. We did them great damage, and now we have a secure position from which to strike at Coruscant.”

“Gentlemen,” Sien Sovv said, “I’m declaring the matter closed from a military point of view. Certainly General Antilles is not to blame. He followed the orders this council gave him. I refuse to allocate