Star Wars: X-Wing I: Rogue Squadron Read Online Free Page A

with Luke when I was ordered to pull out. Biggs died there. Gavin came to me and asked to join
my
squadron.”
    “What Commander Antilles is
not
telling you, Admiral, is that Gavin Darklighter is only sixteen years old. He’s a child.”
    “You couldn’t tell it by looking at him.”
    Ackbar’s barbels quivered. “Forgive me, gentlemen, but determining a human’s age by visual clues is a skill that has long since eluded me. General Salm’s point is well taken, however. This Darklighter
is
rather young.”
    “Is the Admiral suggesting that someone, somewhere within the Alliance,
won’t
take Gavin in when we need to put someone in an X-wing cockpit? I don’t think Commander Varth would balk at bringing Gavin on board.”
    “That may be true, Commander Antilles, but then Commander Varth is far more successful at keeping his pilots alive than you are.” Ackbar’s even tone kept the remark away from being a stinging rebuke, but not by much. “And, yes, I know Commander Varth has never had to face a Death Star.”
    Rogue Squadron’s leader frowned. “Sir, Gavin came to me because Biggs and I were friends. I feel an obligation to him. Even General Salm will agree that Gavin’s test scores are very good—he’ll do his
Redemption
scenario in three days and I expect his scores there will measure up. I want to pair Gavin with the Shistavanen, Shiel. I think they’ll work well together.” He opened his hands. “Gavin’s all alone and looking for a new home. Let me put him in Rogue Squadron.”
    Ackbar looked at Salm. “Aside from this nebulous age problem, you do not disagree with this selection?”
    Salm looked at Wedge and bowed his head. “In
this
case—if Darklighter does well in his
Redemption
trial—I see no problem with letting Commander Antilles have his way.”
    Which means my choice for
XO
gets opposed fully—not that I expected less
.
“You are most kind, General.”
    Ackbar’s mouth opened in the Mon Calamari imitation of a smile. “Spoken with General Solo’s degree of sarcasm, I believe.”
    “I’m sorry, sir.” Wedge smiled, then clasped his hands at the small of his back. “I would also hope the General would see his way clear to letting me choose my own Executive Officer.”
    The Admiral looked at his starfighter commander. “Who is presently in that position?”
    “Rogue Squadron’s XO is Captain Aril Nunb. She is the sister of Nien Nunb, one of the
other
heroes of Endor. She is every bit as skilled a pilot as her brother and worked extensively with him during his smuggling days. Sullust is providing us aid and having her in Rogue Squadron would definitely increase support from the SoroSuub government.”
    “Commander, do you quarrel with this assessment?”
    Wedge shook his head. “No, sir, not at all.”
    “Then the problem is …?”
    “She’s a wonderful pilot, Admiral, and I’d love to have her in my squadron, but
not
as my XO. In that position I need someone who can help train my pilots. What Aril does, what her brother does, is intuitive to them. They can’t teach it to others. As my XO she’d be frustrated, my pilots would be frustrated, and I’d have chaos to deal with.”
    “And you have another candidate in mind?”
    “Yes, sir.” Wedge looked at General Salm and braced for his reaction. “I want Tycho Celchu.”
    “Absolutely not!” The explosion Wedge had expected from Salm did not disappoint him. “Admiral Ackbar, under no circumstances will I allow Celchu to be anywhere near an active duty squadron. Just because he isn’t in prison is no reason for me to want him in my command.”
    “Prison!” Wedge’s jaw shot open. “The man hasn’t done anything that warrants confinement.”
    “He cannot be trusted.”
    “I believe he can.”
    “Come on, Antilles, you know what he’s been through.”
    “What I
know
, General, is this: Tycho Celchu is a hero—much more of a hero than I am. On Hoth he fought as fiercely as anyone and at Endor he piloted