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

Corran’s simulator. “You had nine kills. Jace is not pleased.”
    “Thanks for the good news, Ooryl, but I still got killed in there.” Corran hopped out of the simulator. “The pilot who got you three—Commander Antilles—he got me, too.”
    The Twi’lek shrugged. “He’s been at this a bit longer than I have, so it is not a surprise he got me.”
    Rhysati shook her head, letting her golden hair drape down over her shoulders. “The surprise was that he took so long to get us, really. Are you certain he killed you?”
    Corran frowned. “I don’t think I got a mission end message.”
    “Clearly you have too little experience of dying in these simulators because you’d know if you did.” Rhysati laughed lightly. “He may have hit you, Corran, but he didn’t kill you. You survived and won.”
    Corran blinked, then smiled. “And I got Bror before he got the
Korolev
. I’ll take that.”
    “As well you should.” A brown-haired man with crystal blue eyes shouldered his way betweenOoryl and Nawara. “You’re an exceptionally good pilot.”
    “Thank you, sir.”
    The man offered Corran his hand. “Thought I had you, but when you shot out my engines, your missile caught up with me. Nice job.”
    Corran shook the man’s hand hesitantly. The man wore a black flight suit with no name or rank insignia on it, though it did have Hoth, Endor, and Bakura battle tabs sewn on the left sleeve. “You know, you’re one hot hand in a TIE.”
    “Nice of you to say, Mr. Horn—I’m a bit rusty, but I really enjoyed this run.” He released Corran’s hand. “Next time I’ll give you more of a fight.”
    A woman wearing a Lieutenant’s uniform touched the TIE pilot on the arm. “Admiral Ackbar is ready to see you now, sir. If you will follow me.”
    The TIE pilot nodded to the four X-wing pilots. “Good flying, all of you. Congratulations on winning the scenario.”
    Corran stared at the man’s retreating back. “I thought Commander Antilles was in that TIE. I mean it had to be someone as good as him to get you three.”
    The ends of Nawara Ven’s head tails twitched. “Apparently he
is
that good.”
    Rhysati nodded. “He flew circles around me.”
    “At least you saw him.” The Gand drummed his trio of fingers against the hull of Corran’s simulator. “He caught Ooryl as Ooryl fixed on his wingman. Ooryl is free hydrogen in simspace. That man is very good.”
    “Sure, but
who
is he?” Corran frowned. “He’s not Luke Skywalker, obviously, but he was with Rogue Squadron at Bakura and survived Endor.”
    The Twi’lek’s red eyes sparked. “The Endor tabhad a black dot in the middle—he survived the Death Star run.”
    Rhysati looped her right arm around Corran’s neck and brought her fist up gently under his chin. “What difference does it make who he is?”
    “Rhys, he shot up three of our best pilots, had me dead in space, and says he’s a bit
rusty
! I want to know who he is because he’s decidedly dangerous.”
    “He is that, but today he’s not the
most
dangerous pilot. That’s you.” She linked her other arm through Nawara’s right elbow. “So, Corran, you forget you were a Security officer and, Nawara, you forget you were a lawyer and let this thing drop. Today we’re all pilots, we’re all on the same side”—she smiled sweetly—“and the man who beat the
Redemption
scenario is about to make good on all those dinner and drink promises he made to talk his wingmates into helping him win.”

2
    Wedge Antilles saluted Admiral Ackbar and held the salute until the Mon Calamari returned it. “Thank you for seeing me, sir.”
    “It is always my pleasure to see you, Commander Antilles.” Without moving his head, Ackbar glanced with one eye toward the other man standing in his office. “General Salm and I were just discussing the impact of having Rogue Squadron back in the fleet. He feels you are all but ready to go. The unit roster is impressive.”
    The brown-haired fighter