Star Wars_ X-Wing 03_ The Krytos Trap - Michael A. Stackpole [100]
“Do I sense Borsk Fey’lya’s furred hand in this?”
“You do, though he was not alone in it.” The Council meeting where this plan was floated seemed more difficult than any of the battles I’ve fought against the Empire. “The possibility of having our bacta supply cut off is causing people to take whatever steps they can think of to appease the Thyferrans.”
Wedge’s eyes narrowed. “The big problem we have with the Thyferrans is that they could cut us off at any time.”
“They have the monopoly, so they can do that. The fact that ryll kor might make bacta more effective against this virus does not diminish our need for bacta. Before the Empire aided the Xucphra and Zaltin corporations in monopolizing the bacta trade, we might have been able to find other sources of bacta. Now we have no choice but to trade with them. While we could manufacture our own bacta, the startup costs for a facility that could produce what we need would—well, I can’t say it would bankrupt us, because the New Republic may already be over that line. And you didn’t hear that from me.”
“No, sir.”
“So, Commander, you see our dilemma. We are dependent on the bacta cartel, yet our supply is shaky. Steps taken to secure our supply could anger the cartel—if those steps do not include them—or could anger our enemies enough that they strike at the cartel itself. Warlord Zsinj’s Iron Fist could put a chill on convoy traffic and cause us significant trouble.”
“But they would stop shipping him bacta, too.”
“True, but his need for it is not as great or urgent as ours is.”
“Point taken.”
Ackbar shrugged. “As smugglers put it, we have all our spice in one freighter, and other solutions to the problem seem impossible. I know Rogue Squadron prides itself on doing the impossible, but I think this bacta problem is beyond even your capabilities.”
“Perhaps, sir.”
Wedge’s curious reply seemed tinged with deception, but Ackbar found it hard to believe Wedge would be involved in plotting. He has been spending a certain amount of time in General Cracken’s company, and Cracken’s reportage to the Provisional Council has been handled by subordinates of late, but to combine those things into a plot would be leaping to a conclusion of Borskean proportions. Even so, it does seem rather plausible. “Do I take it you disagree with my assessment, Commander?”
Wedge’s shoulders shifted uneasily. “I would have to say I think you’re probably correct, sir, but Rogue Squadron has done many things in the past that were thought impossible.”
Ackbar nodded. “You realize that anything you might do in this regard could have catastrophic results if the Thyferrans disapprove.”
“If I were involved in anything, sir, that would be foremost in my mind.”
“Very good.” Whatever you are doing, I wish you grand success. “General Cracken will be briefing your people. May the Force be with you—in all you do.”
Wedge smiled. “Thank you, sir.”
Ackbar hesitated, then his eyes shrank to demi-lunes. “Be careful, Commander. Billions of lives hang in the balance. If something goes wrong, I doubt if even your status as the Conqueror of Coruscant will save you from becoming more reviled than Tycho Celchu.”
28
Kirtan Loor stared at the glowing holographic text hanging in the air in front of him and found himself poised between unbridled terror and unbound elation. The message offered him a way out from beneath Fliry Vorru’s thumb, but only if he took steps that could easily anger Ysanne Isard. Doing that could destroy him. But doing nothing clearly will destroy me.
The text, after it had been decrypted and decoded, carried a simple yet explosive message. Twenty ships—New Republic and privately owned freighters—would be traveling from Thyferra with a shipment of bacta bound for Imperial Center. Rogue Squadron was to meet them in the Alderaan system—as if all the bacta