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“Thanks.” Wedge shook his head, trying to force himself out of the flow state he’d entered. “Was that Phennir?”

“According to our sensors, probably so.”

“Tycho?”

“There’s a damaged A-wing pacing him. The rescue shuttle has him on its list.”

They were out of the main fight area and not engaged with enemies. Wedge turned back toward Agonizer just in time to see a brilliant fire flare up from its surface—the result of multiple missile hits breaching the shields and then the hull. The impact area, far starboard of the ship’s center line, suggested that the damage would not be fatal to the Star Destroyer … but loss of atmosphere, structural integrity, and human life would be considerable. If the commander had any sense, the vessel would pull out of the engagement.

If.

“Red Leader to Allegiance. Give me a conflict status update, please.”

“Allegiance here.” It was, as he’d hoped, Iella’s voice. “Imperial forces assaulting Aduma’s surface are suffering heavy losses. They appear to have been anticipating a disorganized response and have been taken off-guard by the Adumari Union counterattacks. The TIE bombers have been especially hard-hit. The Imps also appear to have mounted a rescue operation to retrieve the perator of Cartann and, presumably, install him as a puppet ruler … but two transports full of stormtrooper elites are in Union hands now.”

“Good to hear.”

“In your group, the Blade squadrons were particularly hard-hit, with over thirty percent casualties and fatalities, but your group has inflicted heavy damage to Agonizer.” Indeed, as Wedge watched, the prow of the Star Destroyer slowly began to come about, away from Adumar’s sun and the system’s inner planets. In the distance, a point on the bow of the Star Destroyer Master Stroke flared into incandescence, sign of a serious detonation.

Wedge breathed a sigh of relief. This battle wasn’t done, but the Imperials, calculating that the New Republic would be the only organized forces defending Adumar, had had the heavy end of the hammer dropped on them by united Adumari forces. When the spasms of pain from devastated TIE squadrons and damaged Star Destroyers finally hit the mission commanders—which appeared to be happening now—the Imperial forces would withdraw.

They’d be back someday. But before then, Wedge hoped, the New Republic would have taught Adumar more about defending itself.

“Thanks, Allegiance. Out.” He switched back to squadron frequency. “Red Flight, let’s do some hitting while we still have the chance.”

15

He’d already made his good-byes to Adumar, another speech from the plaza receiving stand in Cartann City before a crowd.

The crowd wasn’t quite so mindlessly enthusiastic this time. Some of its members chose to recall that Wedge had flown against them just days before. But others, still caught up in the worship of pilot excellence, or appreciative of the new configuration of Adumar’s government, still cheered.

And now he stood as the centerpiece of the farewell party for Wedge Antilles, Ambassador. He was back in his Cartann quarters, once again in New Republic dress uniform, among a crowd made up of New Republic pilots and Adumari nobles—including pilots, ministers, and the perators of Cartann and the Yedagon Confederacy. And he had signs of progress to cheer him—such as Cartann’s recent request for a set of flight simulators.

Iella took his arm. She was dressed once more in the moving-fire dress; he’d told her he liked it. “I know Intelligence has tried to recruit you once or twice,” she said. “But I have a feeling that the diplomatic corps just isn’t going to.”

Wedge smiled. “Good. I’d be obliged to shoot whoever came to me with the offer. Saves me a murder trial.”

Balass ke Teldan, Cartann’s new perator, approached. “I am so sorry,” he said.

“For what?”

“Your last flight in Adumar space and it gives you only a single kill.”

Wedge shrugged away that concern. “That kill was a TIE Defender. Very prestigious. If prestige is your aim.”

“Which, I know, is not one of your worries.” The perator lost his slight smile. “My father’s ways