Star Wars_ X-Wing 07_ Solo Command - Aaron Allston [93]
“A recent attempt by a Sullustan pilot to crash a luxury liner onto Coruscant was thwarted by a fellow Sullustan officer. An attempt, also on Coruscant, by a Bothan civil services employee to cause an explosion at a power center was thwarted by his supervisor. Though, officially, both incidents were prevented by fellow workers, unofficially, they were prevented by New Republic Intelligence—who were following the blueprint we sent them for Zsinj’s operations. General Cracken sends his personal congratulations to the members of Wraith Squadron and Rogue Squadron who participated in our prediction sessions. Yes, Face?”
“Does this mean that the order keeping the Twi’lek crewmen off active duty is rescinded?”
“No. Officially, it’s not.” He nodded toward Dia Passik. “Unofficially, it is, pending an upcoming vote by the Provisional Council. Dia, you’re back on duty.”
“That’s not good enough,” Face said.
“I know,” Wedge said. “Zsinj has still wounded the New Republic. We’re going to have to bear up under it until the wounds close, and be happy that we prevented similar measures from being handed down against Sullustans and Bothans. But, Dia, it’s up to you. Do you want to fly?”
“I’ll fly,” she said. “I want my shot at Zsinj.”
“Good, because we have a heavy schedule ahead of us.” Wedge activated the holoprojector. The image of a broad belt of stars appeared beside him, with numerous points of light blinking within it. “We’re going to be bouncing in and out of Zsinj-controlled space, hitting his territories in some places, showing up in our ersatz Millennium Falcon in others. We’ll also be moving through the borders between New Republic territory and Zsinj’s, performing some routine assaults. Horn?”
The Rogue pilot lowered his hand. “Sir, Lara Notsil isn’t just gone, she has to have defected. She really has nowhere to go but the Empire or Zsinj, and that’s a fifty percent chance that the Falsehood scheme has been compromised.”
“That’s a very good point. It all boils down to the question of whether or not we believe her last transmissions. That she still considers herself a loyal Wraith. That she never betrayed us. Do you believe her?”
“No,” Horn said. “She may have believed what she was saying. But after talking to some of the Wraiths about her behavior, reviewing her conduct before Kidriff Five, I tend to think she’s a situational conformist with a few bolts loose in her skull. If she ends up in Zsinj’s hands, she’ll probably end up being a loyal officer of Zsinj’s.”
“That’s a reasonable interpretation,” Wedge said. “Don’t think I haven’t considered it. But I don’t believe it. I think that the Falsehood plan will remain secure, just as the Hawk-bats plan did. However, since I’ll be staking my life on this conclusion, and those of my pilots, I’ll accept, without prejudice, any request for transfer any of you has to offer me. Make them through routine channels after this briefing.
“More good news. We are now in the possession of information about the blood markers that indicate Zsinj brainwashing in a variety of humanoid species. All members of this task force, from General Solo to the most junior civilian crewmen, will be tested, and anyone returning from a shore leave or unmonitored departure from the fleet will be retested. We will not face the tragedy of Tal’dira and Nuro Tualin a second time.” He saw some expressions brighten.
“All right. Among our new weapons is a lot of data about the way Zsinj moves into a system currently in enemy hands and acquires control of businesses there.” That had been another benefit of the first interview with Dr. Gast; her uncle had helped him acquire his majority share in Binring Biomedical on Saffalore, and had told her of the precise techniques he had used. “On Zsinj-held worlds, we’ll be making strikes against the businesses that have to be providing him with the greatest amounts of money or necessary matériel, and we’ll be escorting more appearances by the Millennium Falsehood—both to lure him into an attack on General Solo and, we hope, to make him paranoid about treason on worlds