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“No, sir, but all of this is indicative of the difficulties the Rogues are creating. I have three squadrons of bombers training here as well as two other fighter squadrons. The morale of my troops suffers as the Rogues get rewarded for ignoring operational rules.”

Ackbar gave Salm a wall-eyed stare. “Your specific complaint about TAARS?”

Salm’s brown eyes smoldered. “Rogue Squadron’s ability to alter Top Secret and proprietary software packages has serious security ramifications, especially with Tycho Celchu serving as the Executive Officer of that unit.”

Wedge’s jaw dropped. “Admiral, Tycho had nothing to do with the incident, in the first place, and second, Tycho has done nothing to show himself to be a risk.”

Ackbar clasped his hands together at his back. “I agree to both of your points, but you would acknowledge that General Salm’s concerns are valid?”

The Rogue Squadron’s leader hesitated, never voicing the hot denial he had prepared as he heard the question. While he did not doubt Tycho’s loyalty, he could see that taking chances was not wise. “Yes, sir.”

“Good, because I am going to make an extraordinary request of you.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I’m making Rogue Squadron operational within the week.”

“What?” Wedge felt as if he’d been snared by a Stokhli stun-net. “It’s only been a month since the roster was finalized, sir. Advanced training takes six months normally—four if it’s rushed. We’re not ready.”

Ackbar returned to his desk and tapped the datapad. “That is not what your numbers suggest.”

“Admiral, you know there is more than just numbers to a unit. My people are good pilots, but they’re still green. I need more time.”

Salm folded his arms. “Rogue Squadron has gone into battle before with less training.”

“Yes, and I lost a lot of good men and women because of it.” He opened his arms and appealed to Ackbar. “Admiral, I’ve not even run any hyperjump exercises with these pilots.”

“Ah, but I thought all the pilots were pre-screened for being astronav capable.”

“They are, but …” Wedge was going to protest that Gavin Darklighter needed more work with astronavigation, but Lujayne had been tutoring him and reported Gavin was a natural. Just like his cousin. Dammit, I don’t like this. “I would still prefer having time to take them through more drills.”

“We would all like that luxury, Commander, but we don’t have it.” Salm frowned. “I’m taking my Y-wings—the wing you so neatly chewed up—operational in two weeks.”

Wedge fell silent. My people are far closer to battle-ready than Salm’s. As always, the needs of the Rebellion outweigh the needs of its people—but this we knew going in. “Admiral, can I at least run some astronav exercises to get my people working together when they come out of hyperspace?”

“By all means, Commander. In fact, I have the perfect assignment for you to use in that regard.” Ackbar touched his datapad screen in two or three locations and the lights in his office dimmed. As they did so, a swirling disk of stars appeared suspended between ceiling and floor. It tipped up on edge and a green circle slowly zoomed in on Commenor, locating it just outside the dense Galactic Core. “I will be moving Rogue Squadron from here to Talasea in the Morobe system.”

Even before another green circle could appear and pinpoint the new system, Wedge’s eyes narrowed. “That’s Coreward of here.”

Ackbar nodded. “There has been much debate in the Provisional Council about how we should proceed in the war against the Empire. Much of what we have discussed has been paralleled in the conversations held by the vast majority of citizens, Rebel and Imperial alike.”

“We’re going after Coruscant? Imperial Center?”

Ackbar’s chin fringe twitched. “We are given little choice, really, if we wish to overthrow the last remnants of the Empire—that goal being an exercise that may well take generations to complete, mind you. Many of the Moffs are adopting a wait-and-see attitude about the New Republic. Others, like Zsinj, have proclaimed themselves warlords and are doing what they can to consolidate