Star Wars_ X-Wing 01_ Rogue Squadron - Michael A. Stackpole [56]
“But, Booster used to smuggle glit …”
Wedge cut him off with a scowl. “He also helped me track down the pirates who destroyed the fueling station and killed my parents—pirates who destroyed it while fleeing Corellian Security and whom CorSec never caught.”
“And that makes it all right?”
“No, Lieutenant, it just puts things in perspective.” Wedge gave Mirax a hug around her shoulders. “Mirax isn’t her father. Ever since he retired, she’s been running a lot of supplies for the Alliance.” He then turned and gave her a hard stare. “And Corran isn’t his father, either. If he’d not made some last-minute adjustments to the course we were taking, we’d not have ended up in the Chorax system to save you.”
Mirax glanced down at the ground. The anger in her expression eased slightly, aided and abetted by the color rising to her cheeks. “You’re right, Wedge. I’m still bleeding off the stress of being jumped like that. The Black Asp came out of hyperspace right on my exit vector and gravved me in place. Someone sold me out.”
Corran snorted. “No honor among thieves.”
Wedge frowned at him. “More like Imperial credits buying more loyalty than the promise of Alliance credits.”
Mirax shrugged her shoulders. “Some of us find those promises more safe than letting the Empire get their hooks into us.” She extended her hand to Corran. “I want to apologize for my behavior, Lieutenant.”
Corran shook her hand. “Apology accepted, and I apologize as well. I’m still rattled after getting fired upon by a cruiser. My R2 is down and I’m a bit worried …”
She smiled and some of the tension in his chest eased. “I understand. If I can help in any way.”
“I appreciate the offer.” Corran looked over at Wedge. “I should probably see to getting the X-wing unloaded and Whistler’s getting repaired.”
“In a moment, Lieutenant, I want to speak with you first.” He jerked a thumb at the Pulsar Skate. “Mirax, do you know where your shipment was going?”
“I was supposed to rendezvous with a ship for transfer or coordinates.” She shrugged. “According to the manifest it was a lot of basic stuff for setting up a base. You could probably use most of it here.”
“I don’t doubt it.” Wedge fished a cylindrical comlink from a pocket of his flight suit and flicked it on with his thumb. “Antilles to Emtrey.”
“Emtrey here, sir. I’ve been trying to reach you since we landed …”
Wedge rolled his eyes skyward. “I’m sure you have. No time to talk now. I need you to get a salvage crew with a lift crane over here to get Horn’s X-wing and R2 unit. You also need to get the ship’s manifest from the Pulsar Skate. Find out where that shipment of supplies was going and see if you can’t arrange for what we need to remain here.”
“Yes, sir. As I was saying, sir …”
“Antilles out.” Wedge turned the comlink off and shoved it deep into his pocket again. “Tycho said he didn’t have any trouble with the droid on the trip out here, but why not I can’t imagine.”
Mirax arched an eyebrow at Wedge. “So you send him out here to talk with me?”
“Believe me, he’s not the worst protocol droid on our side, not by a long shot.” Wedge winked at her. “Just give him the datacard, retreat to the Skate, and threaten to shoot him if he comes aboard.”
“Make sure you shoot twice.”
“I’ll remember that, Lieutenant.” Mirax sighed. “Wouldn’t it be easier if I just downloaded the manifest to your central computer?”
Wedge winced. “Right now he is our central computer.”
“True, this isn’t exactly Coruscant Rimward. It makes the Outlier worlds look civilized.”
“I’m glad you understand.” Wedge tossed her an abbreviated salute. “We will talk more later, Mirax. Lieutenant, if you’ll follow me.”
Corran fell in step with his commander. “You wanted to say something to me, sir?”
“It’s never again going to be quite like that first time.” Wedge smiled. “Taking on fighters is one thing, but fighting in the shadow of a capital ship, that’s enough to get