Star Wars_ X-Wing 09_ Starfighters of Adumar - Aaron Allston [90]
Wedge glanced among the others arrayed around his table. The members of his own party wore carefully neutral expressions. The six advisors Escalion had brought—men and women in uniforms similar to his—were more demonstrative, nodding as he made his points, turning eager and expectant eyes to Wedge.
“From what I’ve learned,” Wedge said, “if I calculate things correctly, if every nation not under Cartann’s direct control were to join us, we’d still have a united force about two-thirds the size of Cartann’s.”
Escalion nodded “Though even that number is optimistically misleading. Cartann’s equipment is better than ours. For our fighter corps, we have fewer Blade-Thirty-twos than they do. Less than half our fighter fleet, in fact; we rely largely on older models.”
“So, optimistically, we would, under the best of circumstances, have half their strength or less.”
“Correct.”
“I’ll need a few minutes to think about this.”
Escalion nodded and rose. “We will leave you this chamber and all the time you wish. Summon a servant when you have an answer for us. In the meantime, we will have food and drink sent.”
“Thank you.”
When the Yedagonians had withdrawn, Wedge said, “Pilots, Cheriss, Hallis, please give me a little space.”
“Our proximity is interfering with his brain waves,” Hobbie said as he stood. “We’re jamming them.”
“Something to be proud of,” Janson said. “Anyone for a little sabacc?”
That left Wedge alone at the central table with Iella. She said, “Do you want to be alone to think?”
“What, send you away? I just got you.”
She arched an eyebrow at him. “You make me sound like a marketplace purchase.” But her voice sounded pleased.
“Never.”
“I would have thought you’d have an answer ready for Escalion. Even before we reached here.”
“I did. I was going to turn him down.” Wedge sighed. “But then he threw a skifter into the deck. Flying with the Yedagon Confederacy is not the same thing as leading a union of nations against Cartann. One would be pointless. The other could actually accomplish some, or even all, of what I was sent here to do.”
“How do you figure that? Wedge, you’re no longer in the loop. Anything you do here constitutes rogue actions. Though I suppose that’s appropriate for an ex-Rogue.”
He smiled. “But that’s where you’re wrong. My duties and responsibilities and powers didn’t remain in Cartann when we fled. I still have them here.”
“I’m not sure I understand. Until Tomer Darpen is brought down—”
“He’s not even relevant. It’s obvious that the New Republic set this whole operation up under the control of the local Intelligence division, yes. And it hurts us that Allegiance is under his direct control. But, Iella, my orders don’t even refer to Intelligence. I’m here to try to bring Adumar into the New Republic. I’m empowered to enter into negotiations and conduct treaties. I’m still the chief New Republic diplomat on this world—and I can choose to deal with this assembly of nations instead of Cartann.”
“I hadn’t considered it that way. So what’s standing between you and making a decision?”
“One simple fact. Leading the non-Cartann forces is more than writing a treaty. It’s deciding the fates of whole nations. Possibly of Adumar itself.”
“Wedge, if you choose not to lead them, you’re still deciding their fate.”
“I—you’re right.”
“Get used to it. I usually am.”
He grinned at her, a cocky grin that he knew other Corellians like Han Solo wore far more often than he. “We’ll see about that.” He stood. “Major Janson!”
Janson shot upright, military straight, then glared at Wedge. “I hope this is more important than my card game, young man.”
“Inform Yedagon’s perator that I have come to a decision.”
“Yes, sir. Which is?”
“We’re going to drop the heavy end of the hammer on Cartann.”
Janson uttered a noise that was half cheer, half animal wail, and trotted