Star Wars_ X-Wing 05_ Wraith Squadron - Aaron Allston [43]
She shook her head. “We’d have to repaint the X-wings.”
“Then there was Rogue Squadron.”
“Taken.”
“I know, but it was a good idea. Then there was Dinner Squadron.”
“I take it you were faint from hunger when you were coming up with these.”
“How did you know?”
Less than two hours later, Wraith Squadron was skirting Commenor, preparing to slingshot past it to get clear of its gravity well and into the proper orientation for the first leg of Piggy’s proposed course. Folor was moments from disappearing behind Commenor’s horizon when Jesmin transmitted, “Wraith Leader, this is Two. I have transmissions on an Imperial channel.”
Kell knew Jesmin had installed an upgraded communications and sensor package in her X-wing, appropriate to the squad’s communications expert.
Wedge’s voice was next. “Squad, break off the exit maneuver. Circle here at a diameter of fifty klicks. Two, are they transmitting in the clear?”
“No, sir, it’s encoded. I’m working on that. But there’s something else. It’s a tight-beam transmission, and the origin of the transmission is pretty close to our flight path from Commenor. Two possibilities are that they’re waiting there for us, or they’re using Commenor as a backstop for the signal so it won’t reach Folor.”
“Right. I’ll inform Folor. Wraiths, maintain station. Make yourselves useful.”
Kell gritted his teeth. Another test. The crucial duties, of warning the base and breaking the transmission code, were assigned; Wedge obviously wanted to find out what additional use the other Wraiths could make of themselves without suggestion from him.
Almost immediately, Face’s voice came back: “Twelve, here’s an idea. Query Two’s R2 unit for the signal she’s receiving. Analyze it for Waveshift and see if you can determine how fast the signaler is coming.”
Piggy’s voice, distorted by the comm unit, was completely mechanical and inflectionless: “Will do, Eight.”
Kell’s shoulders tightened. Once again, Face was jumping right into a useful task, showing leadership qualities. If Kell wasn’t careful, Face would grab control of Two Flight. Kell had to respond, to do something just as useful. He had to think fast.
Commenor was a planet fringing on Core worlds territory. Its government dealt and traded with the New Republic, with the shrinking Empire, even with warlords. So if the incoming vessel or vessels, which were either Imperial or warlords because they were using Imperial frequencies, were transmitting to Commenor, they were either announcing their arrival or making requests of the government. “Four, this is Five.”
“I hear you, Five.”
“In all the time you’ve been here, have you sliced into Commenor’s official computer system?”
Grinder was slow in responding. Finally, “Yes, Five. Just to keep in practice.”
“Good. Can you slice in now, with the gear you have on your snubfighter?”
“In no time, Five. I have my list of key codes with me. Always.”
“Right. Punch in now. We’re going to look for a few things.”
“Making contact, Five. Starting the approval dance. What are we looking for?”
Kell thought back to the sorts of record changes the commandos had taught him to look for. “First, any new mobilizations of government forces. Second, new reservations for ship berths. Sort by ship class, prioritize for military ships and hyperdrive-equipped shuttles. Take reservations made for tomorrow as well as today. Sudden large-block hotel and resort reservations, especially the cheaper ones, just in case there will be some rest and recreation for a capital ship. Also, I want astronomical data, if possible, from any observatories pointed out toward the origin of Jesmin’s signal.”
“Would you like breakfast in bed with all that, Five?”
“That’s right, Four. But that’s after everything else.”
They waited in silence for a few minutes.
“Five, this is Four. I read one government shuttle assigned in the last few minutes to convey documents and an observer to the incoming flight. Granting it the right to perform military exercises above Folor.”
“Thanks, Four. Leader, that marks the base as their