Star Wars_ X-Wing 04_ The Bacta War - Michael A. Stackpole [152]
Cracken nodded. “You do. We will justly compensate you for it, of course, and you’ll earn our undying gratitude. Even a pardon for any indiscretions you might have committed …”
“You can stop there, General. Unless you want to give me back the five years I spent on Kessel, I’m not interested in any judicial rewards, thanks. How much?”
The New Republic’s representative hesitated. “The current situation is such that an immediate payment is out of the question, but I think we could compensate you with five million credits.”
“Ha! This is an Imperial Star Destroyer Mark II we’re talking about. It doesn’t have a scratch on it. It is worth billions and billions of credits. I’ll settle for a billion credits, payable in two hours, or I’m flying it out of here.”
“Ah, Booster, you’re dreaming if you think that ship is going anywhere.” Cracken smiled confidently. “As you know, Thyferra has voted to join the New Republic. Because of this, all ships in the system are subject to New Republic law. In accord with said laws, your navigation and engineering section crews have been taken planetside for debriefing.”
“That’s piracy.”
“No, it’s actually a security concern. As Lieutenant Horn can attest, a number of prisoners who were on this ship are missing. We want to question anyone who might have been used to move them to other locations, and your astronav crews could have been employed in that capacity. Right now, your ship is going nowhere.”
Booster frowned. “Okay, I’ll come down to five hundred million credits.”
The sum seemed to stagger Cracken for a moment, then Karrde spoke. “Booster, be reasonable. Try twenty percent of that.”
Booster stared at him. “You’re being very generous with my money, Karrde.”
“Twenty percent of something, Booster, is better than one hundred percent of nothing.”
“True, but if they can’t deliver, why not think big?”
Corran raised a hand. “It just struck me that we might be arguing about the wrong thing here. Booster, how serious are you about making the Virulence into a hyperspace-capable smuggler’s den?”
Booster scratched at the beard stubble on his throat. “Very. I spent my life hauling cargo from one point to another. It would be nice to own a place where the cargo came to me and I just brokered deals for it. The Virulence would do nicely in that regard.”
Corran smiled. “So would the Freedom.”
“No!” Booster and Cracken dismissed the idea at the same time. They exchanged surprised glances, then shook their heads.
“I don’t want the Freedom. Refitting it will take a lifetime. I’d have to get it to Sluis Van, and General Cracken here would guarantee my work was never scheduled. Stick to flying, Horn, because that idea was really dumb.”
Mirax slapped her father on the arm. “Don’t speak to my fiancé like that.”
“What?!” Booster’s jaw dropped. “No, that’s impossible.”
Corran raised an eyebrow. “Mirax, I’m not sure this was the best time to mention that.”
Booster pointed at Cracken and then Corran. “He wants to take away my ship, and he wants to take away my daughter.” He turned to Karrde. “I suppose you want something of mine, too.”
“Perhaps, Booster.” Karrde smiled in a very genial manner. “I think I want you to reconsider what Lieutenant Horn suggested. It strikes me that General Cracken is primarily concerned with your being in command of a ship with enough firepower to slag an inhabited world.”
“Succinctly put, Karrde.”
“Thank you, General.” Karrde looked at Booster. “Now you’re concerned that your ship would fall prey to all sorts of pirates if they take its weaponry away. Even stripped of weapons a hulk like the Freedom would be quite a prize.”
Booster nodded slowly. “You’re talking sense, Karrde. This scares me.”
“Booster and I agree on something.” Corran narrowed his eyes at Karrde. “Where’s this going?”
“You know the law, Lieutenant. A ship