Star Wars_ X-Wing 04_ The Bacta War - Michael A. Stackpole [55]
Corran raised an eyebrow. That was as close as he’d ever heard any human from Thyferra being critical of the corporations with which they were affiliated. Despite the fact that Jace was attempting to paint Zaltin in a good light in comparison with Xucphra, the honesty was welcome and sparked in Corran a willingness to trust Jace further than he ever had before. How much I trust him depends on the rest of this story.
“The intention behind my joining the squadron was for me to become known and trusted within the New Republic. Zaltin officials had come to the conclusion that the Empire was doomed and wanted to make agreements with the New Republic to provide bacta and the means to expand bacta production back along the lines of the system that existed before the cartel was created. Altruism was not their motivating factor—prohibiting the production, sale, and distribution of something is much more difficult than managing the same. The cartel only worked because of the Empire—with its death, the back of the cartel would be broken. The only way Zaltin could profit was to work out a deal with the New Republic which allowed us to oversee the expansion of production throughout the New Republic.
“Zaltin officials also realized that the Vratix, through their terrorist organization, the Ashern, would make a case to the New Republic for independence. They would ask for help throwing off the yoke of their human masters. Since bacta production is all but impossible without the Vratix, Zaltin began to court them. We supplied money and hiding places for them. We began an alliance that would eventually make Zaltin the agents for the Vratix in spreading bacta production throughout the galaxy, enriching us all.”
Bror Jace stopped and closed his eyes for a moment. “The Vratix do not think the way we humans do. Whereas we would incorporate reports and data produced by someone into our plans, they incorporate such individuals into their planning groups. It is as if they don’t disassociate the report from the person making it. Realistically, this is a societal way of ensuring the spread of information and stimulating more creativity within groups, though its efficiency can be questioned.
“The Ashern, who were being given reports on my impressions of the New Republic, required me to return to Thyferra to join their main planning group.”
Corran nodded. “So you were sent a message telling you that your patriarch was dying.”
“You remember. My course home was set by Captain Celchu. Erisi asked about it, and I told her my itinerary because I wanted her people watching for my return. In my trip I made one deviation—an unscheduled stop. I transferred from my X-wing to a freighter that brought me back here. Into my X-wing we placed a bomb meant to mimic the accidental discharge of a proton torpedo. The X-wing was slaved to a shuttle and dragged off toward Thyferra. We intended to enter the system from quite a distance out, send the X-wing in, then have it blow up where everyone could see it.”
“But the Imps had an Interdictor Cruiser waiting for you, thanks to Erisi.” Corran scratched at his upper lip. “Reports we got said there was no Imp debris where you died. I knew something was up then, but I didn’t think you’d lived. Did the shuttle survive the ambush?”
Jace shook his head. “No, so we had no idea what happened until my family received a hologram from Commander Antilles explaining the circumstances of my death. At that point I’d already returned and had gone underground, so it didn’t really matter how I’d died as much as it mattered that both the New Republic and Xucphra thought I