Star Wars_ X-Wing 01_ Rogue Squadron - Michael A. Stackpole [37]
The rest of Rogue Squadron had gathered in a corner of the tapcafe. Corran spotted Gavin first—both because of his size and his nervousness. The youth stared at all the different aliens as if he’d never seen them before. That surprised Corran because he thought, with Mos Eisley being on Tatooine, Gavin would have had his fill of aliens. Then again, I doubt the kid spent much time there. He’s as green as the foam on Lomiin-ale.
Over on the right Bror Jace and Nawara appeared to be deep in conversation. Shiel slipped past Corran and handed Gavin a mug full of a steaming liquid that smelled sweet. Lujayne, seeing Corran, smiled at him and rapped the heel of her mug on the table around which they stood.
“Corran’s here.”
The Bothan’s reaction to his arrival appeared to be relatively apathetic, but everyone else seemed to be pleased to see him. The Twi’lek pointed toward Corran with the tip of a head tail and Bror Jace managed a tight smile. Stepping forward, the Thyferran pilot offered Corran his hand. “I want you to know I would not have flown with your data had I known. I’ll be the first to sign the letter of protest to General Salm.”
“Letter of protest?”
Nawara looked a bit exasperated. “Some members of the squadron feel that a protest of Commander Antilles’s treatment of you is in order.”
Corran looked Nawara in the eyes. “You don’t think so?”
The Twi’lek slowly shook his head. “I don’t think it will be effective and I believe, quite honestly, that this incident is really fairly minor.”
Corran smiled. “I’m glad to see someone hasn’t lost a sense of perspective here.”
Bror’s blue eyes narrowed. “What do you mean by that?”
“I mean, my friends, we’re part of a military unit involved in an illegal insurgency against a government that controls the vast majority of planets in this galaxy. We’re all volunteers here, and we’ve all come because we expect to win freedom and liberty for all sapient species by overthrowing the government. We’re all willing to make the ultimate sacrifice if it comes to that, yet we’re going to protest how one of the most decorated and revered leaders conducts training exercises? I don’t think so.”
Gavin gave Corran a wide-eyed look of confusion. “But what he did to you wasn’t right. It was nasty and cold and meant to hurt you.”
“I’ll agree it was nasty and cold, but it wasn’t meant to hurt me.” He looked around at the rest of the squadron. “Commander Antilles had a point to make with me, and he made it. And he made one with you. Your being here like this, your discomfort with what happened, and your desire to protest my treatment means I know you’re going to be there when I need you to be. And you know I’m willing to do what I need to do to make sure our squadron can do its job. If that means I go in alone or with Ooryl or whatever to get information, I do it.
“The thing we all have to remember is this: There’s nothing Commander Antilles can do to us that will be worse than what the Empire has already done on hundreds of worlds. They destroyed Alderaan. They destroyed the Jedi and they’ll destroy us if they can. Because of what he did today, Commander Antilles knows he can count on me, and I hope the rest of you do, too.”
Erisi raised Corran’s left hand above his head. “I think Corran’s correct. He might not have been the best pilot on the course today, but he’s probably the one who learned the most.”
Lujayne stood and gave Corran a firm hug. “As the second worst pilot today, I say thanks—both for your skill and your wisdom here.”
Corran blushed slightly, freed his left hand from Erisi’s grip, and extricated himself from Lujayne’s hug. “Thanks to all of you,