Star Wars_ X-Wing 01_ Rogue Squadron - Michael A. Stackpole [98]
Derricote touched the screen on his datapad. “Frequency of hits and length of contact is up. Should I correlate that to your visit, Agent Loor, or shall I just assume the Alliance and Empire taking an interest in my little home is a coincidence?”
Kirtan’s eyes narrowed. “The Pyria system is one of a number that fits a profile for being a conduit into the Core for the Alliance.”
“It fits because they don’t know about my defenses.”
“Two more squadrons of TIE fighters will mean little to them.”
“Ah, so there are some things you don’t know about Borleias. Imagine that.” Derricote smiled. “I tell you what, son: You leave the defenses here to me. You’re an Intelligence officer, not a military genius.”
Kirtan pointed to the General’s private datapad. “I saw nothing in there to indicate you’re a military genius, sir.”
Derricote tapped the side of his head with a thick finger. “That’s because I’m smart enough to know that the only data that is safe is the data stored up here. I’ve anticipated a move against Borleias ever since I found the Biotics station in working order, and I’ve planned accordingly.”
The Intelligence officer heard the confidence in the man’s voice and isolated another component in the tone he used. Eagerness. “You’re looking forward to this.”
“I may have my business on the side here, Agent Loor, but I am a loyal son of the Empire.” The large man shrugged. “Besides, I was at Derra IV. I learned to enjoy killing Rebels there, and have formed my plans here to make Borleias just as deadly to the Alliance.”
“A convoy died at Derra IV, General. A laudable event, but it was not a military force.” Kirtan shook his head. “You’ll get their best here, including Rogue Squadron, I do not doubt.”
“Their best or their worst, it does not matter.” General Derricote smiled easily. “They’re expecting to snuff a candle here at Borleias, but when they come, they’ll get burned by a nova.”
26
Corran’s X-wing came out of hyperspace in the shadow of the Emancipator. The Imperial Star Destroyer’s daggerlike profile stabbed deeply into the image of the world he knew only as Blackmoon. Beyond the Emancipator he saw the Eridain and two modified bulk cruisers. The Mon Valle was home to Salm’s Defender Wing while the Corulag was the launching platform for the eight assault shuttles that would ferry down the Rebel ground troops.
The Emancipator remained in position to safeguard the fleet’s exit vector from the system. While none of the briefings had supplied Corran the name of the system and world, he did know jumping out would be difficult. General Kre’fey, in giving them a final briefing, had emphasized the need for security concerning the operation and had promised that while they did not know the name of the world at which they were going to fight, future generations would, and would laud them for having been there.
At the time Corran had thought Kre’fey had enough confidence to take the world by himself, but that failed to banish the bad feelings he had about the mission. The briefings had all been longer on morale building than they had on facts. While the simulator runs had let everyone get comfortable with their roles in the assault, something just felt wrong as far as Corran was concerned.
Keep your eyes open and fly your best—that’s all you can do right now. Whistler brought up Corran’s tactical screen. “Rogue Leader, I have no enemy ships on scan, but the base does have a shield up.”
“Thanks, Nine. Rogues, form up to escort Defender Wing.” Wedge’s voice came cleanly through the speakers in Corran’s helmet. “Fly high side on the Emancipator.”
Corran pulled back on his stick and kicked the X-wing over in a lazy roll that brought him up above the Star Destroyer. All at once the capital ship started pulsing out salvo after salvo of turbolaser and ion cannon shots. Red bolts would merge into sheets of energy burning down through the atmosphere to slam into the Imperial