Star Wars_ X-Wing 03_ The Krytos Trap - Michael A. Stackpole [146]
Cracken’s efforts to slice Loor’s datacard had proven fruitless until its existence had been mentioned during one of Corran’s debriefings. Corran noted that when Loor was working as the Imperial Intelligence Liaison with the Corellian Security Force, he’d had a trick for creating his encryption keys: he had memorized one day’s listings of the Imperial Stock Exchange and used stock listings and prices as his keys. Corran had Whistler give Cracken the date of the listing Loor had used and they quickly discovered he’d keyed the encryption with Xucphra’s listing on that day. The information on the decrypted datacard included a list of PCF safehouses and warehouse facilities, which Rogue Squadron and Cracken’s people quickly destroyed.
Diric Wessiri’s funeral had been tougher on Wedge than any of the flight missions. He found himself going over everything Diric had ever said to him, searching for any clue that would have revealed Diric’s compelled service to the Empire. Wedge couldn’t get Diric’s kind words after his testimony at the trial out of his head. That much compassion should have earned him a different end.
Iella barely managed to hold herself together, and Wedge thought only Corran’s reappearance allowed her to avoid a total emotional collapse. She’d mourned her husband once, then she got him back and had to kill him. Corran, having known her and Diric both, was able to recall for her the Diric of old. The pleasant memories seemed to soften the horror of what had happened, but only just a little and only occasionally.
Bright lights flashed on as a dozen holocams began recording the New Republic’s Chief Councilor. “Citizens of the New Republic, it is a great honor and privilege for me to be speaking to you from Coruscant—a Coruscant that is now safe and finally free of the Empire’s direct and evil influence. I am here, now, in the facility that is home to Rogue Squadron. You all have heard of this legendary unit—its pilots have ever been in the thick of the war with the Empire. Rogue Squadron won for us the opportunity to rescue Coruscant from the Empire, and since then they have been the bulwark that has preserved us from Imperial predation.
“In recognition of their efforts to defend the New Republic, the Provisional Council has created and is awarding to the unit and its members a medal intended to be the highest award our government can bestow upon military personnel. It is the Coruscant Star of Valor. The citation itself reads, ‘For service and bravery beyond the bounds of what can be asked of a citizen by a government, and a willful commitment to put the good of the many above their own personal welfare, the Provisional Council unanimously and joyfully awards to Rogue Squadron and its members, the Coruscant Star of Valor.’ ”
As Mon Mothma turned and looked back at him, Wedge came forward and accepted a transparisteel plate into which the citation had been etched. A hologram of the medal itself had been embedded in the transparisteel above the words, and a ghostly hologram of the unit’s members had been placed behind them.
Mon Mothma shook Wedge’s hand. “Congratulations, Commander. You and your people deserve this even more than I probably know.” She then stepped back and waved him toward the podium.
Wedge hesitated, then stepped up to the microphones. He had been warned he’d be asked to say something, and a number of people had made suggestions, but it was Admiral Ackbar’s advice he decided to heed. Be brief, he said, and remember all those who need to be remembered.
“This citation is not just for those of us who stand here behind me, but really for all those who fought in Rogue Squadron. None of them would have balked at making the sacrifices we have. All of us—everyone in Rogue Squadron and in the Alliance itself—have risked all we are to defeat a government that took joy in the sorrow and terror of its citizens. Winning this award, taking possession of Coruscant, these things are not ends in and of themselves, but blazes marking the trail we must all tread if the galaxy is ever to be truly free.”
Gentle