Star Wars_ X-Wing 03_ The Krytos Trap - Michael A. Stackpole [97]
“Yes.”
“Do they encrypt data?”
“Yes.”
“Do the encryption routines vary in difficulty depending upon the value of the agent?”
“Objection.” Halla Ettyk stood. “Calls for speculation on the part of the witness.”
“Admiral, Agent Wel is overseeing an Intelligence division that has been at war with Imperial Intelligence for years. Clearly she would be familiar with the degree of security the Empire used to protect its assets and hide information.”
“Overruled. You may answer the question as best you are able.”
Wei’s facial tentacles rolled up and slowly unfurled. “Encryption does become more difficult the more valuable the asset. The methods used to hide Captain Celchu’s identity show him to be of middling importance to the Empire.”
Nawara smiled. “So you have uncovered other agents on the same level of importance as him?”
“Dozens. Hundreds.”
“And each of them had fifteen million credits paid out?”
The Quarren hesitated. “No.”
“No? How much were they paid?”
“Thousands.”
“So you’re saying that while Captain Celchu was protected like an agent of little value, he was paid out of all proportion with his apparent worth to Imperial Intelligence?”
“That is one conclusion that could be drawn from the accounts.”
“Is the other perhaps that he was set up to look like a valuable agent as part of a frame-up?”
“Objection. Speculation.”
“Withdrawn.” Nawara nodded to Commander Ettyk. “Agent Wei, how much money has Captain Celchu taken from his accounts?”
Wei’s tentacles writhed. “None.”
“To your knowledge, is there any evidence that Tycho Celchu knew the accounts existed?”
“No.”
Perfect. “So these accounts could have been set up and made to look as if Captain Celchu was an Imperial agent without his knowledge, specifically to discredit him in a trial like this?”
“Yes.”
Nawara let his smile blossom fully. “And in your experience, has Imperial Intelligence ever set up such accounts to attempt to make the Alliance think someone is an agent in their employ?”
The Quarren glanced down at her hands. “Yes. At least once.”
“And who was that?”
Tsillin Wei glanced up at the bearded man sitting at Admiral Ackbar’s left. “General Crix Madine. I found the accounts and also proved they were false.”
“And you have diligently applied yourself to proving the accounts you have linked to Captain Celchu are false as well, correct?”
The Quarren shook her head. “That is not part of my job.”
“So you just manufacture evidence for the state. Truth means nothing.”
“Objection.”
“Sustained.” Admiral Ackbar looked down at Nawara. “You have made your point, Counselor Ven. There is nothing more you can gain on this line.”
“Yes, Admiral.” Nawara returned to the defense bench. “No further questions.”
In the holding cell, Nawara rubbed some warmth back into the tip of his right lekku. “No, you’re right, Captain, we did score points today. I think General Madine will question whether or not you’re being paid off.”
Tycho smiled over at him. “That’s good, yes?”
“In a way, yes.”
“What do you mean?”
Nawara shrugged. “The idea that you’re an agent who was being paid by the Empire isn’t supposed to impress the Tribunal—it’s meant to impress the public. It’s only one of three motives that would explain your actions. It does provide the prosecution with an embarrassment of riches. Greed is the easiest thing for most folks to understand, especially when you’re talking that much in the way of credits.”
Tycho’s binders clicked against the edge of the table as he slid his hands from it and held them against his chest. “Corran’s threatening to expose me is another motive. What’s the last one?”
“Lusankya.” Nawara opened his hands. “The Tribunal, at this point, has a choice. If they assume you betrayed the squadron because you were being paid or because you feared what Corran would uncover, they can convict you of murder and treason without any problem. Everyone will understand what happened and there won’t be any messy details to deal with. If they decide, on the other hand, that you did what you did because of