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Corran punched up One Flight’s tactical channel. “Lead, is it safe to be going with these guys?”

“I don’t know, Nine. They invited us to travel, but they could compel it, too.” Wedge sighed. “Still, they came along at the right time to keep us alive. Whoever they work for doesn’t want us dead.”

“Yet.”

“Good point, Nine.” Wedge grunted a chuckle out. “Let’s hope we’re in better shape to deal with them when they change their minds.”

22

Prince-Admiral Delak Krennel reveled in the pain evident on Mon Mothma’s face. The New Republic’s leader stood only a meter and a half tall in holo and was being rebroad-cast to him by Isard, but he could still see how much the woman ached as she spoke. The interviewing journalist’s question had clearly caught her off guard, but the answer she gave spoke to her quick wits and the depth of her personal knowledge.

“The question asked was if the rumors of the destruction of Rogue Squadron in the Hegemony theater are correct. As you know, we are prosecuting a war against Delak Krennel and his Hegemony and any comments about ongoing operations stand to jeopardize personnel involved in those operations. I’m certain that none of us here would like to cost the brave men and women of Rogue Squadron their lives, nor put into jeopardy the lives of anyone supporting them in their missions.

“Warfare, as all of us know, is seldom a clean business with crisp, clear results. Rogue Squadron and its leader, General Antilles, are well aware of this fact. Pending further investigation all I am willing to say is that Rogue Squadron was involved in a mission that resulted in an unforeseen set of circumstances. I know you all hope for the best for these brave fighters, and we will provide updates as information is forthcoming.”

Mon Mothma’s figure froze and the holocam on the other side of the connection panned up to frame Isard’s head and shoulders. “There you have it, Prince-Admiral. Rogue Squadron is no more.”

Krennel nodded slowly. Two days previously Isard had given him word that Rogue Squadron was about to fall into her trap. Information from Corvis Minor had indicated that there was an engagement and no word was received from the Hegemony fighter wing that had been hidden in the Distna area to spring the trap. Observers on the Aspiration had little to report and only after Krennel insisted had they sent a shuttle out to the area of the battle. The shuttle found virtually nothing in the way of debris and the Aspiration did report, well after the fact, that another Imperial Star Destroyer had visited the battleground before they sent their shuttle out. The Captain said he had assumed the Star Destroyer was one of Krennel’s on a mission connected with the ambush, so he had done nothing to hail it or interfere with it.

“So, Isard, you do not find it disturbing that we have heard nothing from the fighters you had stationed at Distna?”

The slender woman stroked her sharp chin with a hand, then trailed her fingers down her throat. “A matter of concern, yes. Their silence, and the fact we could find no trace of any ships at the ambush site, means the mystery Destroyer likely scooped up whatever there was left over. What I find intriguing about that is very simple: Aside from the New Republic, the only people running around with Imperial Star Destroyers are other warlords, a pirate or two, and Booster Terrik. Terrik has a son-in-law in the squadron. Since no other warlord or pirate has claimed to have smashed Rogue Squadron, I assume Terrik did the recovery. Anything he learned he would have passed to the New Republic. Since the Rogues faced a foe that outnumbered them six to one, the survival of any of the Rogues would have been broadcast immediately.”

“So you are suggesting that no news from the New Republic indicates that your ambush was wholly successful?”

“I think that conclusion is warranted.”

“What of the pilots of ours who survived?”

Isard shrugged. “I would guess there were fewer survivors than either of us would care to imagine.