Star Wars_ X-Wing 01_ Rogue Squadron - Michael A. Stackpole [130]
Ysanne Isard clasped her hands at the small of her back. “Borleias is but one of two dozen worlds that provides the Rebels access to the Core worlds and even Imperial Center herself. Defending against those attacks is nearly impossible and utterly ridiculous if one bears in mind that the destruction of the Rebellion is the only way the preservation and restoration of the Empire can take place. This I do have utmost in my mind, and it is this consideration that sent you to Borleias.”
Kirtan concentrated for a moment. The only thing I did at Borleias was discover Derricote’s covert operation. But if she had known about that previously she would have dealt with him herself. “You sent me to spy on General Derricote?”
Isard nodded almost mechanically. “He has skills that are useful to me. The fact that he had managed to repair and make operational the old Alderaanian Biotics facility indicated that his skills had not atrophied. After I received your report I sent for him, and left my own people in charge of Borleias. In fact, he is here, now.”
“My passage was delayed because you used ships meant for me to fetch him away.”
“Very good, Agent Loor. Your report indicated he had the resources needed to resist a casual invitation. The arrival of a Super Star Destroyer proved enough to convince him to join me here. I have my people safeguarding his operation for him, tightening defenses and the like.”
His facility is held hostage against his cooperation. Kirtan closed his eyes for a moment, hoping all the confusion and conflicting thoughts in his mind would sort themselves out.
They did not. He opened his eyes and saw her studying him as a scavenger would study carrion. “Forgive me, Madam Director, but I’ve lost track of your mission for me.”
“Your mission, Agent Loor, is the same as it has always been—destroy Rogue Squadron. The fact that I choose other missions for you from time to time should not deflect you from your primary duty.”
“Then you will be sending me back out into the galaxy to pursue them?”
“No, you will remain here and work with General Derricote.”
Kirtan opened his mouth and started to ask a question, then closed it. He watched her for a moment, then bowed his head. “As you wish, Madam Director.”
“No, as it must be.” She turned away from him and faced the windows that looked out over Imperial City. “There is no need to send you in their pursuit. You see, soon enough, they will be here. And when they are it will be quite the welcome you have prepared for them.”
36
“Get going, Nine. Defend yourself if you can’t run, but get out of here.” Wedge rolled his fighter to give himself a final look at Corran’s X-wing. “You’ve done good.”
The other pilot gave him a thumbs-up. “I’ll be waiting for the rest of you to get outbound.”
“See you then.” Wedge pulled the X-wing back over past vertical and saw the planet descend to fill his canopy. While the four proton torpedoes he and Corran had loosed at the conduit had not destroyed it, the burning ferrocrete mixer did mark the target rather nicely. Knowing surprise had been irrevocably lost, Wedge brought his fighter down in a spiral that put him five kilometers out from the target at just under four klicks altitude.
As Han once told me, “Stealth and subtlety work well, but for making lasting impressions, a blaster does just fine.” He brought his X-wing around on a heading that paralleled the valley, dropped the nose so it pointed at the fire burning in the distance, and started his dive. I definitely want this to be a lasting impression.
Green laser bolts from the Juggernaut vehicle lanced up through the night at him. Mynock whined, but Wedge just dropped the fighter below the line of fire, or bounced up above it, constantly forcing the gunners to adjust their sights up and down or side to side. Shooting at a fighter means you have a lot more movement to account for. Very few land vehicles can dance around