"Michael Stackpole "Rogue Squadron"" - читать интересную книгу автора

it. And I understand why having two Thyferrans is important-we have to appease
the two conglomerates that control bacta production ..."
Ackbar held up a webbed hand. "Commander, a question to the point is this: Are
the pilots selected inferior to other candidates?"
No, sir, but . ..
"But?"
Wedge took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Luke would be telling me that
anger isn't good. He's right, because anger won't get me any closer to what I
want. "Admiral, I'm commanding a fighter squad-ron. We're an elite squadron and
the only thing I want to change about it is our survival rate. You've let me
have the pick of the new pilots coming over to us, and I've got a fine group of
them. With some more training I think I can make them into the sort of unit that
will strike terror into Imperial hearts. And," he added, nodding at General
Salm, "I concur with the selection of all the pilots listed on the roster you
have, except for two-Rogue Five and my Exec-utive Officer."
"Lieutenant Deegan is an excellent pilot."
"Agreed, General, but he's from Corellia, the same as me and Corran Horn. It
strikes me that hav-ing Corellia overrepresented in Rogue Squadron is not
politically wise."
One of Ackbar's eyes shifted slightly. "You have someone in mind to replace
him?"
Wedge nodded. "I'd like to use Gavin Dark-lighter."
Salm shook his head adamantly. "He's just a Tatooine farm boy who thinks the
ability to shoot womp rats from a speeder can make him a hero."
"Begging your pardon, sir, but Luke Skywalker was just a Tatooine farm boy whose
ability to shoot womp rats from a speeder did make him a hero."
The General snarled at Wedge's riposte. "You can't mean to suggest this
Darklighter has Com-mander Skywalker's control of the Force."
"I don't know about that, sir, but I do know Gavin has every bit as much heart
as Luke does." Wedge turned toward the Mon Calamari. "Gavin
had a cousin, Biggs, who was with Luke and me in the trench at Yavin. He stayed
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, gentle-men, 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, some-where within the Alliance, won't
take Gavin in when we need to put someone in an X-wing cock-pit? 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 re-buke, but not by much. "And, yes, I
know Com-mander 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