The Krytos Trap by Michael A. Stackpole Read Free Book Online

holoprojection table in front of him. “I appreciate your getting here so quickly. I had hoped we’d get at least a week’s liberty after the conquest of Coruscant.…”
    The fiery-haired lieutenant in the front row, Pash Cracken, shrugged. “We’ve not had that much to celebrate, sir.”
    “I know.” Corran’s death, then Tycho’s arrest, had undercut the Rogues when they should have been enjoying their greatest triumph. While everyone else on Coruscant was jubilant about the world’s liberation, the Rogues felt still enslaved by Tycho’s plight. The contrast between the congratulations they got from others and the way they feltinside remained sharp enough to slice them up emotionally. To save themselves, the squadron members had rallied around Tycho and were determined to prove his innocence. That provided them a sanctuary and sense of control, though it did nothing to endear them to others who thought Tycho’s guilt was indisputable.
    “The one thing we do know, people, is that the source of our problems lies on the Imp side of things. We should also realize that what we’re suffering is nothing compared to what hundreds of thousands of people out there are suffering.” Wedge pointed a finger toward Nawara and Riv Shiel, then glanced back at Aril Nunb. “Three of our own came down with this Krytos virus, but they got quick treatment with enough bacta to knock it out. Bacta is in high demand right now, but supplies are very short.”
    Erisi Dlarit, the dark-haired pilot from Thyferra, pressed a hand to her own sternum. “I know the cartels are producing as much as they can—at least the Xucphra group is. I have personally sent messages to my grandfather to let him know of the need for bacta here.”
    “Thanks, Erisi, every bit of help we can get is vital.” Wedge folded his arms across his chest. “Warlord Zsinj hit a bacta convoy heading out from Thyferra. I believe it was from the Zaltin group, Erisi, not your family’s corporation. Zsinj took the bacta to a storage facility, but a member of the Ashern rebel group …”
    “Terrorists!” Erisi spat.
    “… happened to be crewing aboard the Zaltin ships. He managed to get a message out concerning the location of the space station Zsinj is using.” Wedge nodded toward Aril, and the Sullustan punched up a holographic image of the station on the holoprojector. The station consisted of a central disk with thick expanses of living quarters above and below the horizon. Slender towers rose from the middle of the disk, suggesting the station had been impaled on spears. Three wedge-shaped launch-and-recovery causeways stabbed out into space from the central disk like spokes meant to connect up with a nonexistent rim.
    “This is an Empress -class space station located in theYag’Dhul system. Basic armament is ten turbo-laser batteries and six laser cannons. It also has the capability of housing up to three squadrons of TIEs, though the usual complement is only two dozen fighters. The bacta is being held here, and we’re going to get it away from them.”
    As Wedge continued his briefing, little glowing icons appeared to hover around the station. Each represented a ship and entered the display as its part in the operation was explained. “We will be leading two squadrons from General Salm’s Defender Wing to pull a quick strafing run on the station and get them to scramble their fighters. The squadrons we’ll have with us are Warden and Champion—you remember them, they saved us at Borleias.”
    The Gand toward the back raised a three-fingered hand. “As Ooryl remembers it, Commander Antilles, Defender Wing flies Y-wing fighters. Provoking TIE fighters to come out and attack Y-wings would seem to Ooryl as potentially dangerous for Defender’s pilots.”
    “Your concern is noted, Ooryl, and has been taken into account. Guardian Squadron, the third of Defender Wing’s component parts, has been refitted with B-wings. This adds considerable