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“Lieutenant Cracken, there came a point during the operation here on Coruscant in which the squadron’s personnel were drawn together, correct?”

“Yes.”

“And Captain Celchu was not among those people, correct?”

“He was not there, no.”

“But there was news of him, was there not?”

Pash leaned back in the witness chair. “Yes.”

“One report was that an attack by Warlord Zsinj on the base at Noquivzor had hit Rogue Squadron’s staff hard and that Tycho Celchu was among the missing.”

“Yes.”

“Who delivered that report?”

“Commander Antilles.”

“After hearing that report, you believed what about Captain Celchu?”

Pash glanced down at his hands. “I thought he was dead. He was listed as ‘missing in action,’ but you learn that really means ‘dead, and we don’t have enough pieces left to fill a thimble, so we can’t prove it.’ I expected we’d get confirmation of his death fairly quickly.”

Ettyk gathered her hands at the small of her back. “There was another story told about Captain Celchu, yes?”

“Yes.”

“Who told that story?”

“Lieutenant Horn.”

“What did Lieutenant Horn say about Captain Celchu?”

“Objection, hearsay.”

“Exception, Admiral: The statement Lieutenant Cracken will relate was told against Lieutenant Horn’s best interest.”

“What?” Nawara Ven’s jaw dropped open. “How is what Corran said about the defendant going to be against Corran’s best interest?”

Ettyk smiled. “Lieutenant Horn prided himself on his observational skills, and when he related the story of what he had seen, he made it into a self-depreciating tale. Given his position of authority in the squadron, this was against his best interest.”

“Admiral, that is a gross misuse of the hearsay exception.”

“You won’t be able to keep the story out—Commander Antilles filed it as part of a report concerning the operation here on Coruscant.”

Nawara’s lip curled back in a snarl and gave Ettyk a view of his sharpened teeth. “If you want to bring that story in, by all means, lay the proper foundation and call your witnesses in order.” You may indeed succeed in bringing this stuff in, but I’m going to make you work for it.

Admiral Ackbar leaned over and consulted with General Madine for a moment, then straightened up and nodded. “The objection is overruled.”

Nawara felt his lekku twitch. “Admiral, this leaves me grounds for an appeal.”

“It may indeed, Counselor Ven, but the ruling stands.” Ackbar pointed toward the witness. “Lieutenant Cracken, you will tell the court what Corran Horn said, as best as you can remember.”

Pash nodded as a frown gathered on his face. “Corran said he’d seen Tycho on Coruscant on the same day Warlord Zsinj hit Noquivzor.”

“And what did he say Captain Celchu had been doing when he saw him?”

“Talking with someone in a cantina.”

“Who was he speaking with?”

“Objection. The question calls for a conclusion based on facts not in evidence.”

“Please, Commander, rephrase your question.”

“Yes, Admiral.” Ettyk glanced back at Nawara for a moment, then looked over at Pash. “Whom did Lieutenant Horn say he saw in conversation with Captain Celchu?”

“He said it was Kirtan Loor, but—”

“That’s quite enough, Lieutenant, thank you.”

“But—”

Admiral Ackbar looked down from the bench at Pash. “I’m certain Counselor Ven will allow you to finish your answer under cross-examination.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Now, Lieutenant, I want you to recall when it was that you saw Captain Celchu after the report of his death.”

“Three weeks ago. He showed up and saved us from stormies trying to kill us.”

“Did his presence cause you to reevaluate Lieutenant Horn’s story?”

“No, I don’t think so.”

“No?” Ettyk’s expression sharpened. “You had been told Captain Celchu was dead, then you saw him again. You learned he had, in fact, been on Coruscant at the time Horn said he’d seen him. Did that not give you cause to wonder about what Horn had seen?”

“Things were very busy at the time. Desperate. I was given orders. I didn’t think about things I didn’t have to think about.”

“Not even