Star Wars_ X-Wing 02_ Wedge's Gamble - Michael A. Stackpole [0]
The Y-wing let a proton torpedo go at point-blank range, but it shot past the eyeball and would have hit the X-wing had Corran not rolled fast. “Break outside, Champions!”
The Y-wing pilots complied with Corran’s order, but did so slowly. The TIE spun in on Champion Five, pouring verdant laser bolts into its shields. The Y-wing pilot continued his roll and dive, and the TIE corrected to follow him, allowing himself to fly a level arc as he pursued his quarry.
You’re mine, now. Corran eased back on his stick, millimeter by millimeter centering the Imperial fighter on his targeting crosshairs.
Whistler shrilled a warning.
Behind me? Who? He glanced at his sensors and saw the other TIE closing in on him and he wanted to break away. Can’t, Five is history if I do.
Corran hit his trigger and prepared for nothingness.
STAR WARS: WEDGE’S GAMBLE
A Bantam Spectra Book / June 1996
SPECTRA and the portrayal of a boxed “s” are trademarks of
Bantam Books,
a division of Random House, Inc.
®, ™, & © 1996 by Lucasfilm Ltd.
All rights reserved. Used under authorization.
Cover art by Paul Youll.
Copyright © 1996 Lucasfilm Ltd.
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. For information address: Bantam Books.
eISBN: 978-0-307-79622-6
Bantam Books are published by Bantam Books, a division of Random House, Inc. Its trademark, consisting of the words “Bantam Books” and the portrayal of a rooster, is Registered in U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and in other countries. Marca Registrada. Bantam Books, 1540 Broadway, New York, New York 10036.
v3.1
DEDICATION
To the memory of
Roger Zelazny
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The author would like to thank the following people for their various contributions to this book:
Janna Silverstein, Tom Dupree, and Ricia Mainhardt for getting me into this mess;
Sue Rostoni and Lucy Autrey Wilson for letting me get away with all they have in this universe;
Kevin J. Anderson, Timothy Zahn, Kathy Tyers, Bill Smith, Bill Slavicsek, Peter Schweighofer, Michael Kogge, and Dave Wolverton for the material they created and the advice they offered;
Lawrence Holland & Edward Kilham for the X-Wing and TIE Fighter computer games;
Chris Taylor for pointing out to me which ship Tycho was flying in Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi and Gail Mihara for pointing out controversies I might want to avoid;
My parents, my sister Kerin, my brother Patrick and his wife Joy for their encouragement (and endless efforts to face my other books out on bookstore shelves);
Dennis L. McKiernan, Jennifer Roberson, and especially Elizabeth T. Danforth for listening to bits of this story as it was being written and enduring such abuse with smiles and a supportive manner.
DRAMATIS PERSONAE
ROGUE SQUADRON
COMMANDER WEDGE ANTILLES (human male from Corellia)
CAPTAIN TYCHO CELCHU (human male from Alderaan)
CAPTAIN ARIL NUNB (Sullustan female from Sullust)
LIEUTENANT CORRAN HORN (human male from Corellia)
LIEUTENANT PASH CRACKEN (human male from Contruum)
OORYL QRYGG (Gand male from Gand)
NAWARA VEN (Twi’lek male from Ryloth)
RHYSATI YNR (human female from Bespin)
ERISI DLARIT (human female from Thy ferra)
GAVIN DARKLIGHTER (human male from Tatooine)
RIV SHIEL (Shistavanen male from Uvena III)
ZRAII (Verpine male from Roche G42)
M-3PO (Emtrey; protocol and regulations droid)
WHISTLER (Corran’s R2 astromech)
MYNOCK (Wedge’s R5 astromech)
ALLIANCE MILITARY
ADMIRAL ACKBAR (Mon Calamari male from Mon Calamari)
ALLIANCE INTELLIGENCE
GENERAL AIREN CRACKEN (human male from Contruum)
IELLA WESSIRI (human female from Corellia)
WINTER (human female from Alderaan)
CITIZENS ON CORUSCANT
ASYR SEI’LAR (Bothan female from Bothawui)
INYRI FORGE (human female from Kessel)
FLIRY VORRU (human male from Corellia)
ZEKKA THYNE (human/alien male from Corellia)
CREW OF THE PULSAR SKATE
MIRAX