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The Bothan looked to Mon Mothma. “If we reveal this information, we could start a panic.”

“Councilor Fey’lya has a point.”

“Revealing the nature of the mission to those who will fight the thing will start news leaking that could start a panic. Coming from the government, this becomes a security advisory that ought to generate support for what we’re doing against Krennel.” Wedge straightened up. “It’s important that we get this Pulsar Station now, while it can’t do much more than run, and explanations about the situation should make that clear.”

Mon Mothma nodded slowly. “This is an intriguing strategy you suggest, General Antilles. The Council shall consider it. You’ll likely be on station again in the Hegemony before you learn of our decision.”

“I understand, Chief Councilor Mothma.” Wedge gave her a smile. “As long as the information is going to get out, I think we should make it work for us. Make Krennel’s allies and the station’s people uneasy. It might even get us the station without a shot being fired.”

Borsk Fey’lya barked a short laugh. “Do you actually believe that, General?”

Wedge shrugged. “No, but I hope it all the same.”

Prince-Admiral Delak Krennel slowly extended his mechanical index finger, letting it uncurl from his fist, and pointed it at Ysanne Isard as she entered his office. “This is your doing, is it not?”

Isard graced him with the hint of a smile. “I admire the way you keep your rage from your voice. A good skill to have.” She turned away from him and looked at the holo-projector unit in the corner of the room. “As for that, no, I had nothing to do with it.”

Krennel shifted his finger to point at the projector, then brought his thumb up to hit one of the buttons on his index finger. The projector’s volume came up as General Cracken moved into the center of the image. He smiled briefly as the holocam pulled back to reveal a smaller holoprojector and a Death Star image behind him. Bitter bile bubbled up into the back of Krennel’s throat as Cracken began to speak.

“One month ago, as New Republic forces liberated the world of Liinade Three, we uncovered a secret research and development base in which scientists were engaged in studies devoted to creating the next generation of weapons based on Death Star technology …”

Isard turned back and waved her left hand dismissively at Krennel. “You may shut it off. I’ve seen it too many times in the last day. I know his boring monologue by heart.”

Krennel’s chin came up. “Ah, you were so entranced by all this that you could not come when I summoned you after my first viewing of this message?”

“Hardly.” She shrugged effortlessly and remained standing in the center of his office as if she owned it. “I was not on Ciutric. I traveled away from here to obtain reports from agents about this lab the New Republic says it found.”

The Prince-Admiral heard something in her voice that sounded like a mixture of boredom and disgust. “ ‘Says it found’? You don’t believe the report?”

“You do? You believe this transparent and pathetic charade?” Isard’s eyes narrowed with disbelief. “Please, Prince-Admiral, do not allow yourself to sink in my estimation. This is an obvious sham, meant to take in those who are a neuron shy of being able to form a synapse.”

Krennel pounded his metal fist against his desk. “It’s not a matter of belief. I know I had no such lab and no such project under way.”

She nodded, slowly crossing her arms over her chest. “I know. You could not have hidden such a thing away from me.”

The Prince-Admiral leaned forward, his teeth set in a feral grin. “But you, Ysanne Isard, you could conceal such a base from me, couldn’t you? You could carry on such researches, couldn’t you?”

“Indeed, Prince-Admiral, I could, but the New Republic’s analysis shows I did not. Certainly, I could have put that lab in place, moved those people in, covered the tracks so you couldn’t find them. That would be child’s play, really—indeed, such projects were my childhood amusements.” Her eyes focused distantly and she chuckled for a moment. “That’s not what you wanted