made of other ingredients. Alazhi, because it is grown, comes
in various potencies depending upon location, soil content,
rainfall, and even spontaneous mutation. Verachen oversee
the proper combination of these components into the bacta.
Each lot has a minimum potency, but sometimes the bacta
will be most potent and work extremely well. Such is the
batch we have presented to you as our gift."
"Gift?" Wedge placed his hand atop Qlaern's hand.
"Please do not think me dense, but there are some things you
say as if you expect me to already understand them."
"Forgive us. We have been foolish."
"That's partially my fault, Wedge." Mirax added her
hand to the pile on Wedge's knee. "The Vratix are not ex-
actly a hive mind, but there does appear to be surface
thought exchange among Vratix who spend a lot of time in
close proximity to one another. The reason 'verachen' is plu-
ral is that while Qlaern here might be the supervisor in
charge of a batch process, Qlaern will have subordinates
who act almost as remotes, reporting back and receiving or-
ders on a subsensory level of some sort. Qlaern may have
been under the impression. you and I similarly shared
thoughts."
"So you know what he's talking about?"
"I think so--and, actually, Qlaern is not a he per se. The
Vratix can both father and bear young, depending upon
stages in their life cycle, which I guess is rather long." She
inclined her head toward the Vratix. "When it speaks of the
Clone Wars, it's speaking from life experience."
"Huh?" Wedge smiled. "So, will you clear up this gift
thing for me?"
"Sure, if you don't mind, Qlaern."
"We are grateful for your aid."
Mirax drew in a deep breath. "The Vratix have made
you a gift of the bacta and all that entails." "Why me?"
Qlaern's antennae twitched. "Your fame has made you
known to us. You are known as a fair and wise man who
values loyalty. This we value as well."
Wedge's eyes narrowed. "I appreciate that, but I still
don't understand. What's in this for the Vratix?"
The Vratix inclined its head toward Mirax. "This you
must explain, for you will do it better than we will."
Mirax nodded, then took another deep breath. "The
Vratix are giving this bacta to you because they want you,
Wedge Antilles, to represent them before the Provisional
Council. They want to join the New Republic."
"What?" Wedge's surprise at being asked to represent
the Vratix immediately faded beneath a sense of disaster.
Thyferra was the sole supplier of bacta, but the world had
steadfastly remained neutral in the civil war. Everyone be-
lieved that this was so they could gouge both the Empire and
the Alliance, thus enriching themselves while the war raged.
To keep Thyferra happy, the Alliance had even inducted two
of its human residents--one from a Zaltin family and the
other from a Xucphra family--into Rogue Squadron. Bror
Jace, the pilot representing the Zaltin corporation, had been
killed fighting against the Empire. Erisi Dlarit, the other
Thyferran, still flew with the squadron, and viewed the
Ashern as murdering terrorist monsters.
And there's the problem. If the New Republic granted
the Ashern any sort of status, the Thyferran government
would react harshly and swiftly. Any hope of getting bacta
from the cartel--no matter how successful Erisi's backdoor
efforts in that regard might be--would die quickly and horri-
bly. If the bacta supply dried up, the Krytos virus would
ravage Coruscant and, quite likely, spread to other worlds
and kill billions of individuals.
If I refuse the request . . . then what? Wedge looked
up at Qlaern. "The bacta you made available to us, there's
nothing wrong with it, is there? We're not in a situation
where you have to mix something else in for it to be effective,
such that if I refuse your request, the bacta will be useless or
harmful, are we?"
Qlaern's mandibles clicked open and shut again. "There
was once a case where verachen fouled a batch of bacta. Tile
reasons for that action were sound. The results of that action
were unacceptable. The Vratix ask for your help, but cannot
do so at the expense of your people. The bacta, it is a gift to
you. So is this verachen." "What?"
"We have come here to Coruscant because we know you
cannot jeopardize your people by taking up our cause. As
verachen we have ways and means to mix up more than just
bacta, or to make bacta more effective. We are here to learn
of this Krytos virus and to stop it." "But this virus could kill you."
Qlaern shrugged. "Great risk is necessary to defeat great
evil. You know this."
Wedge slowly smiled. "That I do. Your offer impresses
me, but I cannot act alone in this. I have people to whom I
must speak."
Mirax raised an eyebrow. "Not the Council, right?"
"No, not the Council, not right off. I only really have
one choice General Cracken. If word of Qlaern's presence
gets out, or Erisi catches wind of the Vratix working with us,
Thyferra will hear about it quickly and we'll be stuck.
Cracken can provide security and whatever resources Qlaern
will need to do the job."
Mirax smiled. "And it might distract him from perse-
cuting Tycho."
"It might do that, indeed."
The Vratix hissed sharply. "It is a beneficent balm that
soothes more than one wound."
"Agreed." Wedge stood and clapped the Vratix on both
shoulders. 'Tm glad you're here, Qlaern Hirf, because
there're plenty of wounds to be found, and decidedly little
soothing going on. If you can do anything--anything more
than you've already done--to stop the Krytos virus, HI
gladly represent you before the Council and, if need be, even
take your case to Thyferra itself."
Nawara hit a couple of keys on his datapad, calling up
the deposition Pash had given him earlier. He let his eyes
track over the Rylothean script, but did so only to cover his
surprise at Ettyk's choice of lead witness. He had fully ex-
pected her to start with Iella Wessiri or General Cracken to
establish a connection between Tycho and Imperial Intelli-
gence. Instead, by calling Pash first, she appeared to want to
firmly set up Tycho's having the motive, means, and oppor-
tunity for killing Corran, then work backward into the larger
treason picture.
I should have seen that coming. Since the great public
hue and cry about the case had pushed the treason angle,
that was the vector he'd expected Ettyk to take in presenting
her case. He'd thought she'd establish the treason, then show
that Corran's murder was necessitated to cover the treason.
By coming at it the other way around and establishing the
murder, she got treason by implication, and all the evidence
she presented after that just went to bolster a fact she had
previously proved.
"This pitches our defense into the Bright Lands," mut-
tered Nawara.
Tycho leaned over toward him as Pash stepped into the
witness box and was sworn in. "What do you mean?"
"There is ample circumstantial evidence to show you
killed Corran. Emtrey could convince a jury of droid-haters
that you certainly could have killed Corran. I could baffle a
jury by pointing out how many others could have done the
job, but the Tribunal is going to be tough." Nawara nar-
rowed his pink eyes. "I had hoped we'd have to fight over
treason first, since it's a weaker charge, but we'll have to deal
with this first."
Tycho gave Nawara a confident smile. "You'll get me
out of this."
"I will."
Ettyk moved out from behind the prosecution table with
the supple ease of a taopari stalking prey. "Lieutenant
Cracken, your service record has already been appended to
the transcripts of this trial, so I will not ask for a recitation of
your numerous citations and awards won in service to the
Alliance. I would, however, like you to think back to the
events that led up to the night when Coruscant fell to our
forces. Can you do that?"
"Yes." Pash nodded and a lock of red hair curled down
over his forehead.
"Good." Ettyk gave him a polite smile. "Where were
you at that time?"
"Here, on Coruscant."
"And you were present on Coruscant as part of an as-
signment given to Rogue Squadron?"
'Yes.'
"Did that assignment include orders that posted Captain
Celchu to Coruscant?"
Pash shook his head. "I only know my orders for the
assignment, Commander. My orders contained nothing that
referred to Captain Celchu."
"So, at the time you left your base to travel to Corus-
cant, you expected Captain Celchu to be where?"
"Objection!" Nawara stood. "The question is irrelevant
and the prosecution has provided no foundation to show the
witness could answer it."
Admiral Ackbar nodded slowly. "Sustained on the rele-
vance grounds. Lieutenant Cracken's expectations are imma-
terial, Commander Ettyk." "Yes, Admiral."
"And you, Counselor Ven, need not stack objecti ons.
We'll take them as they come in, shall we?"
Nawara nodded. "1 appreciate the court's admonition
and I shall remember it." He returned to his seat and forced
himself to breathe slowly. You aren't going to win this case
with the first witness. Be careful but not so eager.
"Lieutenant Cracken, there came a point during the op-
eration here on Coruscant in which the squadron's personnel
were drawn together, correct?"
'Yes."
"And Captain Celchu was not among those people, cor-
rect?"
"He was not there, no."
"But there was news of him, was there not?"
Pash leaned back in the witness chair. "Yes."
"One report was that an attack by Warlord Zsinj on the
base at Noquivzor had hit Rogue Squadron's staff hard and
that Tycho Celchu was among the missing."
"Yes."
"Who delivered that report?"
"Commander Antilles."
"After hearing that report, you believed what about
Captain Celchu?"
Pash glanced down at his hands. "I thought he was
dead. He was listed as 'missing in action,' but you learn that
really means 'dead, and we don't have enough pieces left to
fill a thimble, so we can't prove it.' I expected we'd get con-
firmation of his death fairly quickly."
Ettyk gathered her hands at the small of her back.
"There was another story told about Captain Celchu, yes?"
"Yes."
"Who told that story?"
"Lieutenant Horn."
"What did Lieutenant Horn say about Captain
Celchu?"
"Objection, hearsay."
"Exception, Admiral The statement Lieutenant Cracken
will relate was told against Lieutenant Horn's best interest."
"What?" Nawara Ven's jaw dropped open. "How is
what Corran said about the defendant going to be against
Corran's best interest?"
Ettyk smiled. "Lieutenant Horn prided himself on his
observational skills, and when he related the story of what he
had seen, he made it into a self-depreciating tale. Given his
position of authority in the squadron, this was against his
best interest."
"Admiral, that is a gross misuse of the hearsay excep-
tion."
"You won't be able to keep the story out--Commander
Antilles filed it as part of a report concerning the operation
here on Coruscant."
Nawara's lip curled back in a snarl and gave Ettyk a
view of his sharpened teeth. "If you want to bring that story
in, by all means, lay the proper foundation and call your
witnesses in order." You may indeed succeed in bringing this
stuff in, but I'm going to make you work for it.
Admiral Ackbar leaned over and consulted with General
Madine for a moment, then straightened up and nodded.
"The objection is overruled."
Nawara felt his lekku twitch. "Admiral, this leaves me
grounds for an appeal."
"It may indeed, Counselor Ven, but the ruling stands."
Ackbar pointed toward the witness. "Lieutenant Cracken,
you will tell the court what Corran Horn said, as best as you
can remember."
Pash nodded as a frown gathered on his face. "Corran
said he'd seen Tycho on Coruscant on the same day Warlord
Zsinj hit Noquivzor."
when he saw him?"
"Talking with someone in a cantina."
"Who was he speaking with?"
"Objection. The question calls for a conclusion based on
facts not in evidence."
"Please, Commander, rephrase your question."
"Yes, Admiral." Ettyk glanced back at Nawara for a
moment, then looked over at Pash. "Whom did Lieutenant
Horn say he saw in conversation with Captain Celchu?"
"He said it was Kirtan Loor, but--"
"That's quite enough, Lieutenant, thank you."
"But--"
Admiral Ackbar looked down from the bench at Pash.
"I'm certain Counselor Ven will allow you to finish your
answer under cross-examination." "Yes, sir."
"Now, Lieutenant, I want you to recall when it was that
you saw Captain Celchu after the report of his death."
"Three weeks ago. He showed up and saved us from
stormies trying to kill us."
"Did his presence cause you to reevaluate Lieutenant
Horn's story?"
"No, I don't think so."
"No?" Ettyk's expression sharpened. "You had been
told Captain Celchu was dead, then you saw him again. You
learned he had, in fact, been on Coruscant at the time Horn
said he'd seen him. Did that not give you cause to wonder
about what Horn had seen?"
"Things were very busy at the time. Desperate. I was
given orders. I didn't think about things I didn't have to
think about."
"Not even a bit? Not even when your orders included
taking precautions to keep a traitor in your midst from get-
ting information out to Imperial sources?" "That was normal for a covert op."
"But you had to wonder if there wasn't really a traitor in
your midst, correct?" "No."
"No?" Ettyk's head came up. "You're a friend of Cap-
tain Celchu's, aren't you?"
Pash hesitated. "I'm in his squadron. I know him. I
know what he's done. He's saved my life."
"And you think you owe him something?"
"I said he saved my life."
"And you don't want to be testifying here against him,
do you?"
"No." The response came emphatic and strong.
"And, in fact, I had to compel your testimony with a
subpoena, didn't I?"
"Yes."
The prosecutor looked up at the Tribunal. "I'd like per-
mission to treat this witness as hostile." Nawara winced. "Not good."
"Why not?" Tycho asked in a whisper.
"In direct testimony the questions are supposed to be
open and nonleading. On cross-examination you get to lead
the witness toward the answers you want." Nawara
scratched at his throat. "A witness who is forced to answer
questions always leaves the impression he's covering some-
thing up, so it makes even innocent things seem condemning.
Pash is trying to do my job for me, but he's just making it
tougher."
Ackbar waved a hand toward Ettyk. "Permission is
granted to treat Lieutenant Cracken as hostile."
"Thank you, Admiral." Ettyk smiled. "Now you're a
smart man, Lieutenant Cracken. You attended the Imperial
Military Academy under a false identity your father created
for you, correct?"
"Yes."
"And the operation that took you to Coruscant involved
your arriving under a false identity, correct?"
"Yes."
"So you have some understanding of what it takes to
operate covertly in a hostile environment, just as any spy
would, correct?" "Yes."
"It would be natural for a smart man like you to use
what you had learned to try to check and see if you could
detect any signs of a spy in your midst, correct?" "It would seem that way."
"It really was that way, wasn't it, Lieutenant?" Halla
Ettyk opened her hands. "You certainly found yourself eval-