Star Wars_ X-Wing 05_ Wraith Squadron - Aaron Allston [93]
Wedge listened to his explanation with interest. “Where have you seen such an arrangement?”
“I grew up in one.”
They all looked at him. Wedge asked, “At Binring Biomedical Product?”
“Yes.”
Janson whistled. “Piggy, do you mean these are like the one you grew up in, or are they identical?”
“These are the same. Exactly the same.”
“So either,” Janson said, “this is a standardized piece of equipment, or Zsinj has some connection with Binring Bio-med.”
“I haven’t seen this model before,” said Ton Phanan. “Either when I was a practicing doctor or later. They aren’t, for example, the same as the cages in which General Derricote kept his test subject for the Krytos Plague. I’d say they weren’t a standard design.”
Wedge nodded. “We may just have to add Binring’s home base to our list of targets. Piggy, where is that?”
“Saffalore.”
“That’s in the Corporate Sector, isn’t it? Currently independent?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Very well. Unless we have any further questions, it’s time to issue some new orders.” There were no inquiries, so Wedge continued. “We had a good, successful run this time. No losses. Information gained. But we can’t just hope that each official who has dealt with Darillian gets in touch with us and lets us force or trick him into revealing where Zsinj’s new property is, then blow up that site. Zsinj will figure out what we were doing in no time. We want to leave Zsinj with the impression that Night Caller is being followed—not that the ship itself is responsible for the attacks.
“So, first, General Cracken has said that he’s dispatching Intelligence teams to each world on the list I sent him. Our hope is that they can provide us with information as we get there.
“Second, Grinder, I want you to research the ship’s logs. Call up information on every planet Night Caller has visited since the Emperor’s death and note the dates. Since Captain Darillian didn’t make notes of his audiences with these collaborators, if General Cracken’s team hasn’t been able to do so, you’ll try to code-slice into planetary records when we visit those worlds and figure out which properties were switched to new owners during or just after Night Caller’s visits. Then we investigate them … and if they’re Zsinj operations, we take them out. Always a few days after Night Caller’s visit, always when the ship is already in another system.”
Grinder nodded. “Understood.”
“Face, if the planetary governor or anyone reveals to you that he’s Zsinj’s collaborator, that’s just sheer informational profit. Relay the information as fast as possible to Grinder so he can dig out appropriate information. But don’t pry for additional information yourself unless Grinder comes up dry; in that case, you can contact Zsinj’s stooge later and try to get the data.”
Face smiled. “If the miracle Bothan fails, Captain Darillian the Magnificent will save the day.”
Wedge gave him a steady stare. “You don’t have to get into character now. In fact, we might have to shoot you if you do.”
“Alliance audiences are always the toughest audiences.”
“Piggy, I’m sorry to ask this, but I want from you a full, detailed report on your stay with Binring Biomed. Personnel, the site where you grew up, impressions, odd things you noticed that didn’t mean anything at the time, whatever you can remember.”
Piggy took and released a deep breath. “I will do it.”
“Everyone else, standing orders apply. Back to work.”
Face was standing by as Tyria emerged from the X-wing simulator. “Better this time?”
She smiled. “Better. Always better, bit by bit. But if I were you, I’d give it a few minutes to air out before climbing in. I had quite a workout in