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“You will, Wedge. You’ve gobbled up the best the Emperor had to offer—no reasons to imagine the crumbs will choke you.” Mirax gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek. “I’ll see if I can find enough paint to be able to decorate your T-65 with the new kills.”

“Thanks, Mirax.” He turned to Erisi. “You have something for me, Ms. Dlarit?”

“Mission Control says Case Green is in effect.”

“Good. We’re clear to go.” Wedge whistled loudly and circled his right hand over his head. The Rogue Squadron pilots looked at him for a second, then pulled themselves into their cockpits. “Sorry you’re not going with us, Ms. Dlarit.”

“Not as sorry as I am. May the Force be with you.”

Wedge smiled. “Thanks. Stay out of danger, the both of you.” He pulled on his helmet and climbed up into the X-wing’s cockpit. He strapped himself into the ejection seat, then punched the ignition sequence into the computer. The engines came up with only a trace of a whine. He closed the cockpit canopy, then glanced behind himself.

“Are you ready, Mynock?”

The R5 unit beeped at him and Wedge projected a trace of fear into the reply’s tremolo. Wouldn’t be a mission if we didn’t feel that way.

“Rogue Leader to Mission Control, requesting liftoff clearance.”

“Control to Rogue Leader, you and your squadron are clear for takeoff. Be strong in the Force. And shoot straight.”

“As ordered, Tycho. See you in ten hours.”

“I’ll be waiting.”

Wedge gave Tycho’s silhouette in the control center’s window a thumbs-up, then he slowly cut in the repulsorlift drive. The X-wing rose from the ground and, with a light foot on the rudder pedals, turned left toward the hangar door. Easing the throttle forward he applied thrust and started out. He let his nose dip a bit to give himself a better view of the area through which he flew, retracted his landing gear, and cruised out into the open.

All around him the golden savannahs of Noquivzor spread out, the long grasses teased by gentle breezes. His ship seemed immune to the wind, just as it was immune to the peace of the planet. Off in the distance brown specks flowed together into a dark flood as a mossy-horned herd of wildernerfs invaded the valley. In one huge tree, the only one visible to Wedge, a pride of taopari waited for the prey to drift closer before they would start their hunt.

Tycho was right—I’m not too old for this game. I have, however, been playing it for far too long. When I get back, I’m going to get out and walk across these plains and drink in a little life, a little peace. He nodded slowly. It’s no good to keep fighting if I allow myself to forget why I’m fighting.

Corran’s voice crackled through the helmet speakers. “Rogue Squadron assembled, sir.”

Wedge brought the nose of his fighter up. “Thank you, Rogue Nine. Full speed to the jumppoint, people. We’ve got an appointment to keep and it won’t do for us to be a minute late.” Wedge punched his throttle full forward, leaving wind-whipped grasses and roiling clouds as the only sign he had been on the planet.

And Noquivzor erased those traces effortlessly.

Mirax shivered and hugged her arms around herself. As she turned away from the hangar opening, she saw Erisi staring ion bolts at her. Now I know why I felt cold. She put her arms through the sleeves of the jacket and pulled it taut at her waist so Corran’s name tape could be read over the breast pocket. “I think they’ll do fine.”

“I know it.” The Thyferran glared at her. “Of course, your antics with Corran could doom the mission. He needed rest.”

“And he got it.” Mirax met Erisi’s stare openly. “Corran and I are friends, nothing more. His father knew my father.”

“His father hunted your father.”

“And got him, so you can rest assured that nothing could develop between us.”

“Good. See that it doesn’t.”

The implied challenge got beneath Mirax’s skin. “And if I don’t?”

Erisi’s blue eyes sparked anger. “You are a smuggler. I have it within my power to see to it that you never are able to handle bacta shipments. I can guarantee that anyone who wants to handle bacta shipments will never