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“It was, and it was a factor, though Thyne’s hostility to Corran was more indicative of trouble than anything else.”

“But you felt your observations of Thyne justified Horn’s opinion of the man?”

“Yes.”

“So, when Thyne turned out to be an Imperial plant you had not detected, but whom Horn had warned you about, didn’t you have to reconsider Captain Celchu’s position in regard to what Horn thought about him?”

Wedge shook his head. “To be honest, Commander, there was so much happening at the time Thyne was revealed to be a traitor, that I could only consider one thing: getting my mission done. We had just received word that we had to bring the shields down so our fleet could invade. Mind you, Tycho passed that message to me. If he were an Imperial plant, he could have withheld that information and set a trap for our fleet.”

“So then, Commander Antilles, you are not of the opinion that the Empire gave us this world, infected as it is with the Krytos virus, to destroy us?”

“I have no idea, Commander Ettyk, what was in the mind of Ysanne Isard at the time we took Coruscant.”

“I see.” Halla Ettyk took a datadisk from Iella Wessiri and exchanged it for one in her datapad. “But you do not discount that possibility, correct?”

“I cannot discount it.”

“And you cannot discount the possibility that Captain Celchu was working for the Empire in helping give Corus-cant to the New Republic.”

“Yes I can.” Wedge nodded solemnly. “I know Tycho. I know he’s not a spy. I trust him.”

“And you trusted Zekka Thyne until proved wrong about him, didn’t you, Commander?”

“No, that’s not the way it was.”

“Perhaps not to you, Commander, but it was to one man.” Halla Ettyk shrugged casually. “Corran Horn. And now he’s dead.”

Outside the courtroom, Wedge slumped against the cold stone wall. Nawara tried to rehabilitate me as a witness, but the damage was done, I wanted to be in there and help Tycho, but I didn’t. He hammered a fist against the wall. “Sithspawn!”

He straightened up immediately as a woman closed to within inches of him. She held up a comlink and nodded to a holocam-carrying Ithorian. “This is Zaree Lolvanci, Kuati First Holo-News, and I’m standing here with Alliance hero, Commander Wedge Antilles. How does it feel, Commander, to know that your testimony is what will convict Captain Celchu?”

Before Wedge could gather his wits enough to answer, a body sliced between the holojournalist and him. Wedge felt a strong grip on his upper arm and heard a firm voice reply to the question in his place. “Commander Antilles’s only interest in this matter is seeing justice done. He has every confidence that his faith in Captain Celchu will be vindicated when the defense presents its case. Until then, any speculation on the outcome would be premature and possibly prejudicial. And he has no further comment.”

Wedge let Diric Wessiri guide him past the Ithorian and on through a security checkpoint, where two guards stopped the reporter and her holographer. Diric steered him to a bench and sat beside him. “Odious people, the holoshills, aren’t they, Commander Antilles?”

“They don’t make a very good first impression …”

“No, but it tends to last.” The older man smiled at him. “How are you holding up?”

Wedge nodded. “I think I will be able to recover. Just need some time.” He regarded the slender man closely. Though his flesh still seemed a bit ashen, spirit and fortitude shone in his eyes. “Thank you for saving me.”

“I am glad I was able to help.” Diric gave him a smile that appeared artificial only in that it looked as if Diric had to consciously work at remembering how to smile. “Iella was afraid something like that would happen. She sent me after you.”

“I’d have thought she was happy with the turn of events. Commander Ettyk ate me alive.”

“No, she wasn’t happy.” Diric patted a tunic pocket. “I have a pass that can take us up to the secure parking area. We can get in my airspeeder and leave here. Iella said she would be willing to join us later for dinner, if you wish.”

“I doubt I would be very good company.