Star Wars_ The New Jedi Order_ Dark Tide 01_ Onslaught - Michael A. Stackpole [73]
Leia took a step toward him and laid a hand on his shoulder. She looked up into his eyes and gave him a brave smile. “Gavin, you and I both know that the people who are capable of dealing with trouble never really get a chance to pass, to rest, to live a normal life. People like us assume responsibilities so other people don’t have their lives ruined. We can wish it was otherwise, but it won’t happen.”
She handed him the datapad. “I cannot tell you how grateful I am that you wanted to safeguard Jaina; but by letting her fly, we can safeguard someone else. She’s a wonderful pilot, she can fly an X-wing like no one else, and she’s a Jedi. The Force might be less effective against the Yuuzhan Vong, but if she picks up that one of your other people is in trouble, she can be there to help.”
Gavin swallowed past the lump choking him. “Two of the top pilots in the squadron’s past were from Corellia and Alderaan, so having someone whose blood comes from both will probably be good. Do you want to tell her, or shall I?”
“You should tell her, Colonel.” Leia smiled proudly. “I think being told of this assignment by her mother would tarnish it somewhat.”
“You have my word, Princess, that she will be well taken care of.”
“I know, Gavin. May the Force be with you.”
“Rogue Eleven, check in, please.”
Jaina blinked and kind of jumped in her cockpit seat when she realized the comm call was for her. I’m in Rogue Squadron! The realization had a surreal aspect to it because, as she grew up, the part of her uncle’s life that had gone before his becoming a Jedi Knight had receded into the dim past. While Luke was acknowledged as the founder of Rogue Squadron, Wedge Antilles and the other pilots in it had really defined the squadron and made it a legend.
Even though she knew she was a good pilot, she didn’t think she was good enough to join the squadron, especially not at her age. Still, desperate times require desperate measures.
“Rogue Eleven, check in. If your comm unit is giving you trouble, raise a hand.”
Jaina keyed her microphone. “Sorry, Nine, I’m all green here. Good to go.”
“Have to be alert out there, Sticks. No spacing.”
“As ordered, Nine.” Jaina grinned, enjoying the fact that she’d already been given a call sign. She knew it came from the fact that her X-wing had a control stick, and she carried a lightsaber, which the pilots derided as another stick.
Gavin’s voice crackled through the comm channel. “All Rogues, head out. We rendezvous at point Angel-One. Orient 342 mark 55 and go to station keeping.”
Jaina double-clicked her comm unit to acknowledge the command, then fed power to the repulsorlift coils. The X-wing came up smoothly and hovered very still while she retracted the landing gear. She glanced over at the observation deck windows and thought she saw her mother flanked either side by Elegos and Lando. She gave them a big thumbs-up, then as Rogue Ten moved out of the hangar, she nudged the throttle forward and trailed after her squadron mate. Once out of the hangar, she pulled back on the stick and boosted her throttle full forward, rocketing the X-wing toward the asteroid belt waiting above.
Jaina still felt the way her flesh had puckered when Colonel Darklighter came to her and offered her a position in Rogue Squadron. Rogue Squadron had been the people who liberated Coruscant from the Empire. They’d helped break up the Bacta Cartel. They’d been part of Grand Admiral Thrawn’s defeat and played a key role in ending the long struggle with the Empire. As much as her uncle, mother, and father might have been heroes of the Rebellion, the Rogues became a symbol, a collection of heroes that most people could identify with. While she loved her family and cherished being a Jedi Knight, being asked to join the squadron was something that