Star Wars_ X-Wing 05_ Wraith Squadron - Aaron Allston [3]
With a few waves of her hand she managed to reduce the crowd’s roar to the point her amplified voice could be heard above it. “Citizens of the New Republic, I present to you Rogue Squadron!” Another protracted roar, and then she continued, “Before I bring Commander Antilles up to speak, I think I should put the squadron’s recent accomplishments in perspective. With their efforts, we now have, once again, a steady supply of bacta—a supply sufficient to stamp out the last lingering effects of the Krytos Plague. With their efforts—”
Wedge tuned her out. This was all old news to him. Weeks before, he’d led Rogue Squadron—the true Rogue Squadron, the men and women now in civilian dress—on a mission that the New Republic military command could not support. Resigning their commissions, the members of Rogue Squadron and a handful of professional insurgents had mounted a civilian action against the new government of the world of Thyferra, the world where the overwhelming majority of bacta, the miracle medicine, was produced. That new government was headed by the Empire’s former espionage leader, Ysanne Isard, and could have become the core of a reunited Empire.
But now Ysanne Isard was dead, and Rogue Squadron’s resignations had apparently been creatively misfiled—meaning that they were never civilians—meaning that, with the mission’s success, the New Republic was retroactively making the Thyferran mission an officially sanctioned operation.
None of which explained the presence of a new Rogue Squadron flying the unit’s traditional colors. Wedge traded places with Tycho, his second-in-command, to stand beside Hobbie Klivan. “So tell me about this ersatz Rogue Squadron.”
The pilot with the perpetually mournful face shook his head. “It’s not ersatz. Just sort of auxiliary. For morale purposes, the Alliance needed a visible Rogue Squadron while you were off playing pirate. So they brought me and Wes back from training-squad duty to cobble together a temporary Rogue Squadron.”
“Temporary.”
Hobbie nodded. “We brought in some Rogue Squadron veterans—Riemann, Scotian, Carithlee, several more—and a couple of new pilots each out of Gauntlet and Corsair Squadrons. Now that you’re back, they all return to their original units. Except—”
“Except what?”
“Except me and Wes. We’re back for good. Subject to your approval. That’s the reward we were unofficially promised by High Command.”
“Well, I’ll think about it.” At Hobbie’s stricken look, Wedge smiled. “I’m kidding you. Welcome home. Is Gauntlet Squadron active? I thought they were still in diapers.”
“You’re behind the times. Corsair was our first squadron, Gauntlet our second, and our third, Talon, was just commissioned.”
“Who’s commanding?”
“Lieutenant Myn Donos. A good pilot, smart—”
Lieutenant Wes Janson, still baby-faced despite his years flying for the Alliance and New Republic, leaned in grinning from Hobbie’s other side. “Smart, egotistical, self-centered, arrogant, insufferable—you know, a typical Corellian.”
“As a fair, broad-minded officer, I should ignore that. But as a Corellian, of course, I’ll manage some sort of revenge.” Wedge turned back to Hobbie. “Before your Rogues are disbanded, I want to see their personnel files.”
“Of course. Why? If I can ask.”
“You can. I have an idea for another new X-wing unit … something based on our experiences taking Coruscant and Thyferra.”
“You’re going to form a new squadron?”
Wedge nodded.
“Just like that? Wave your hand and it appears?”
“Well, I thought I’d tell High Command so they’ll know what they need to give me.”
Hobbie shook his head. “Wes, you were right. All Corellians are like that. Oh, Wedge, the princess—”
Wedge realized belatedly that Leia had called his name and was beckoning to him.