Chapter: 5
Theed was an exquisite city – peaceful, complacent, beautiful, and timeless.
Walking through the beautifully designed architecture, the towering edifices of marble and lime, one couldn't help but temporarily forget the war. It seemed that the Naboo designers who had built the grand city of Theed had tried to make their works seem alive, for every stone structure – be it of hard right angles or smooth, irregular curves – seemed to flow and scream of life. Everything fit, from the towering statues of the Naboo gods and goddesses to the massive, roaring waterfalls.
In short, Theed was magnificent.
Had the Galactic Alliance arrived during times of peace, their troops might have been met with suspicion and impersonality. The Naboo had always despised hostile presence, abhorring violence. Now, however, their world was endangered, and the people received the Rebels as the heroes that they were.
The citizenry flooded the streets, screaming and cheering their rescuers – thousands upon thousands. It seemed that the entire population of the planet had poured into Theed, if only to catch a glimpse of these unsung heroes.
Leia Organa Solo looked nothing short of radiant, dressed in a flowing gown of scarlet. White streamers trailed from the wide sleeves and a white sash was tied around her waist. She walked on the arm of General Wedge Antilles, a hero of the Galactic Civil War.
Beside and behind the pair came Cal Omas, the Alderaanian Chief of State; Colonel Gavin Darklighter of the famous Rogue Squadron; General Chad Hoffman and Admiral Phillip Creel of the Kiss of Life; Master Jedi Luke Skywalker and his wife, Mara Jade Skywalker; Fyor Rodan, a scheming politician; Dif Scaur, director of intelligence; Admiral Traest Kre'frey, a Bothan; and Commander Leroy Corsurge of the newly formed Green Squadron. They made a grand precession, all of them decked out in their best attire.
The throng of countless screaming citizens parted to let their saviors past through their midst, then closed up behind them, herding the individuals towards the Palace. From somewhere in the distance, a band was playing a foreign tune – barely audible above the din – and confetti was thrown in air. Children and adults alike waved and shouted from bridges, high ledges, and second– and third– story windows.
The eight current pilots of Green Squadron mutely followed the precession. A change of plans had them becoming a part of the parade. Each looked distinctly uncomfortable at being in the center of attention, but they marched along in their leaders' wake, nevertheless.
The precession came to a halt at the massive steps to the grand palace. All eyes came to rest on the Queen Janitte of Naboo herself, who stood on the first of two landings in the steps. Behind her were arrayed her ladies–in–waiting, clad in their formal red dress, and the Queen's personal guard. More people lined the massive stairs, but none stood higher than the Queen herself.
The screaming grew in volume as the representatives of the Galactic Alliance mounted the stairs to the Queen's level, then died out completely as each sank to their right knee in a formal bow. The utter silence was now strangely out of place.
The crowded citadel rang with silence.
Queen Janitte blessed the visitors by her gods, then graced each by allowing them to kiss her royal hand.
Utter silence ensued as the visitors were bidden to rise.
The Queen was a sight to behold. Her face was covered with white makeup with the lips a ruby red. Her hair was ornately done up in an upside–down, V–shaped braid which hung over her shoulders. She smiled and approached Leia and Wedge, who had headed the procession.
Janitte embraced Leia, kissed her once on each cheek, then held her at arms length, smiling. In the silence, her words were strangely magnified and everyone in the crowd could hear them.
"Welcome home, sister. You will always be welcome here among your people."
Polite applause erupted from the crowd. The members of the Alliance joined in after a second's hesitation.
Queen Janitte continued, this time addressing the whole of the procession. "We are grateful for your presence here in this time of crisis. Forgive our lack of manners, as we have no means to express our thanks through any type of gifts…"
Leia raised hands to distill regret. "Please, do not apologize. This war has taxed us all. We only hope to lend all possible aid to help your… our… people."
She turned to the man on whose arm she leaned. "This is General Wedge Antilles."
Antilles had not changed much since his days with Rogue Squadron. He stood just as tall as he always had and wore his best dress uniform. The only signs that age had begun to affect him were the gray patches at his temples and the crows' feet deepening the lines under his eyes.
Wedge had opted to shave the beard he had grown accustomed to wearing, figuring that would give him a more youthful appearance.
He bowed deeply to the Queen. "It is a pleasure to serve."
Queen Janitte smiled in return, but did not speak.
Leia held out a hand palm–up in the direction of the man to Wedge's left. "Cal Omas, Chief of State."
Omas inclined his head in a bow and clasped his hands together at his waist. "General Antilles has summed up my feelings, my Lady."
Leia indicated the man in the brown Jedi robes and the woman with flaming hair next to him. "My sibling, Luke Skywalker and his wife, Mara Jade Skywalker."
Luke smiled and bowed to the Queen. "The Jedi have made Naboo's protection their priority, Queen Janitte."
The Queen smiled in return. "I have heard many great things about you, Master Skywalker."
Luke's blue eyes glittered. "Merely legends and tales, I am sure, Highness."
Janitte laughed. "Either way, I must assure you that you have our – my – respect." She turned to Mara.
The Jedi woman's arms cradled a small bundle of cloth: Ben Skywalker, barely three months old. The old fire that had always existed in Mara's eyes burned even brighter today, and she seemed all the more stronger, now that the illness had left her body.
The Queen's eyes widened, and she placed both hands on Mara's arm, gazing in wonder at Ben's tiny face. "Gods bless this child," she said softly.
Mara smiled and settled into Luke's one–armed embrace. "Thank you, Highness."
Leia went on to introduce the rest of her companions, starting with Dif Scaur and finally ending with Commander Corsurge and his partial fighter wing. After the introductions had been completed, the Queen turned to her maids and the one Gungan standing behind her and hurried them off into the palace.
This accomplished, she turned back to her guests. "Once again, allow me to express the gratitude all Naboo shares for your presence –"
"Hey!"
The shout echoed in the air, startling them all. Thousands of heads turned in wonderment, everyone turning to see a middle–aged man fighting his way through the crowd. The people made no move to stop him – instead, they were stepping aside, letting him through. Some of them were actually cheering again as he made his way towards the palace steps –
The man mounted the stairs three at a time, breathing hard –
– and the Queen's bodyguards leapt into action, three of them converging on the man and stopping him cold in his tracks. The crowd stopped cheering again in an instant, and murmurs ran through the throng.
They had mistaken this would-be assassin for another hero of the Alliance!
The man struggled for a moment, then allowed the guards to begin pushing him back down the stairs. "C'mon, fellas – fighting doesn't always work everything out. I'll buy you all drinks sometime – Leia!"
Leia felt the color rise to her cheeks as she recognized the voice.
"Stop!" she said suddenly, hiking up her red skirts and hurrying down the steps towards the struggling men. "Let him go – that's my husband!"
A collective gasp went up from the crowd, and Queen Janitte raised a hand to her lips.
The first guard tried to stop Leia from coming any closer. "Careful, M'Lady – he tried to kill the Queen!"
"I did not!" the man shouted indignantly, his face lost amidst the three bodies pressed around him. "Leia! Tell them I didn't! I wouldn't!"
Leia forced her way between the two guards as Wedge and Leroy Corsurge jumped forward to pull her back –
– and the guards finally yielded, stepping back to allow Leia to see Han Solo's face, sweating from exertion.
He grinned at her. "Hey, I love your family, Leia."
Wedge forced his way into the group, then laughed outright when he saw Solo. "Han! You should know better than to go running at a Queen!"
Leia scowled at her husband. "Yes, he sure knows how to make an entrance, doesn't he?"
Queen Janitte looked utterly confused, as did most of the Alliance representatives and the Theed citizens.
"What is going on?" the monarch demanded, coming down the steps towards the small group. Her ladies–in–waiting hurried to scoop up the trains of her skirts so that they wouldn't drag along the ground.
Leia sighed and turned back to the Queen. "I apologize most sincerely, Queen Janitte. This is my husband, Han Solo."
She sent her beloved a glare.
The Queen's eyes widened, seemingly with inexpressible fury. The entire atmosphere in the citadel changed dramatically, and murmurs began rippling through the crowds.
And then Janitte smiled.
And then she laughed.
Really laughed.
Leroy Corsurge covered his eyes with a gloved hand. Wedge was already laughing openly. The rest of the Alliance delegates now joined in, Fyor Rodan being last, along with the three guards who had nearly beaten Han into submission.
Leia looked startled by the turn of events, and she turned to shout at Han, but he gave her that roguish smile that never failed to melt her anger, and suddenly she found herself laughing too. Han opened his arms wide, still smiling, and took her into a big hug.
The citizens in the crowd were laughing too, the story being relayed back and forth to those who had been too far away to see the spectacle, and now the whole plaza was laughing. It was almost as if the war had been won, and that the people were free already.
But as Queen Janitte regained her composure and began to speak again, silence once again fell upon the throng.
"Your reputation proceeds you, General Solo," she said warmly.
Han gave a courteous bow, and Leia found herself both embarrassed by his swagger and pleased that he had not forgotten his manners. "Please forgive my abrupt intrusion. My ship had a… ah… maintenance problem, so I couldn't arrive on schedule."
Typical. And yet, Leia couldn't find it in her to remain mad at him.
"There's no need for apologies, General." In the aftermath of her mirth, Queen Janitte's eyes had lost their twinkle and the radiant presence that she had shown seemed to shrink.
She turned and swept an arm up the steps towards the glorious palace above them all.
"Now let us commence the talk that needs to be had," Janitte said, addressing all of the Alliance delegates, "so that future generations might know laughter, just as we have shared. And let us pray that it was not in vain."
Commander Leroy Corsurge shifted uncomfortably in his seat, longing for the cockpit of his A-Wing, or better yet, his quarters on the Kiss of Life.
Hell, I'd settle to have Dano beside me. Why am I here anyway? I know nothing of politics. The Admirals tell me to blow things up, and so I do it. It's their job to actually plan these things out.
As it was, he had not added a single thing to the conversation as yet, meaning his presence so far had been completely unnecessary.
"…we just need to know how much support you can give us," Fyor Rodan was saying in an aggravated tone. As of the past fifteen minutes, the question had been posted to the queen four times, but Janitte had beaten around the bush, refusing to give a direct answer. Her concern was understandable, but due to present circumstances, seemed out of place.
Rodan had no patience – that had been obvious since his first days in office. The look in the man's eyes was enough to ignite a spark of dislike in Leroy's belly towards the man, but the Commander had to concede the fact that Rodan did get things accomplished.
"Our numbers are not substantial to take on the entirety of the Vong horde, so we will need some assistance – whatever you can give us," the politician continued, speaking slowly – condescending, as though he were addressing a child.
He kept ignoring General Antilles' warning looks and Cal Omas' pleading stare. "There is little time to deliberate, so if you could just give us some round–about figures, or perhaps the names of parties in nearby star systems that could be reached."
Queen Janitte, seated in a high–backed throne situated behind a low table, sighed and steepled her fingertips. "I am sorry, Senator Rodan. I just don't want to see my people die. We have very few weapons and only one wing of starfighters planet-wide. As for soldiers, we have no standing army, save for the few smugglers hiding amongst our population and the fifty members of my personal guard."
Leroy winced. Not a lot of help there. But it was better than nothing.
Rodan kneaded his forehead as though he was experiencing a migraine, and a tense silence filled the air for the space of eight seconds.
General Antilles leaned forward in his couch, his lined face passive. "I'm afraid that we may have to take advantage of your starfighter wing," he said softly. "We will use them only as emergency reserves, but if the need arises, they will be utilized."
Janitte nodded. "I understand."
Rodan spoke again. "What about supplies? Can you lend any foodstuffs? Shelter? Medical?"
Janitte's Gungan aide, who had been introduced to the Alliance diplomats as Kam Swenson, was seated in a round couch close to Janitte's side. He raised a pink–fleshed hand and spoke in a squeaking voice that instantly drove a spike of irritation through Leroy's brain.
"Wesa believe that wesa can help yous in this regard," the Gungan began, "but wesa is wondering how long armed forces will be staying in the citadel?"
The question was directed at Rodan, but he had no authority over troop occupation. He glanced at Wedge, deferring the question to the General.
Antilles pursed his lips and replied in turn. "Out of courtesy to you and your people, we will keep all ground troops in makeshift shelters on the plains outside of Theed, so you will not have to worry about housing them."
The general shifted in his seat. "They have their own mealkits, so rations shouldn't be a problem unless we're here for longer than two weeks." He must have seen the Queen's brief wince, because he quickly added, "But it is our intention to make certain that we don't overstay our welcome. Our soldiers will be removed the moment the Vong have been driven off."
Still unsatisfied, the Gungan pursued the subject. "And what if yousa's soldiers are unruly? Wesa no want to deal with them."
Admiral Creel spoke from his seat beside Gavin Darklighter. "If any stormtrooper misbehaves or disobeys orders, I can assure you that individuals responsible will be confined and later court–martialed. The Galactic Alliance will pay for any damages caused or for medical operations if it is necessary."
"It won't come to that," Wedge said firmly, his jaw set. "The Alliance soldiers – and the Imperials for that matter – know their duty, and even more, what is at stake here. No one's really willing to lose sight of that, or they risk losing their will to go on. I, for one, fear no sort of disturbance."
Queen Janitte nodded. "Nor do I. Now, what will come of our alliance after the Vong have been repulsed? Will we still be regarded as part of the Galactic Alliance and called upon for aid in the future?"
Cal Omas shook his head and scooted forward in his seat. "If you fear that we'll hold this pact as binding and call upon Naboo to finally take up a side after years of neutrality, you are only suspicious of Wampas under your bed. We will not count you as part of the Republic worlds, and if there is ever another circumstance such as we face now, we will not call on you to provide arms, foodstuffs, troops, or anything else for that matter."
The Alderaanian smiled. "My planet was once as Naboo is now. I understand your concern and will make sure that nothing you fear comes to pass."
Leia gave the Chief of State a smile. "Chief Omas speaks truly, Queen. If you desire any ties made to be severed once this crisis has passed, then we shall most certainly make sure of it."
Janitte nodded with regal gratitude.
The Gungan, Swenson, spoke again, diverting the subject once more. "What is yousa's battle strategy? If it involves fighting in wesa's streets, wesa must protest."
Leia extended her left hand towards Wedge Antilles. "General, if you please?"
All eyes turned to him as Wedge got to his feet. He fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a datapad, then gestured towards the holoprojector built into the floor around which they all sat.
"If I may?" he asked the Queen.
Janitte nodded, and Wedge bent down and plugged the datapad into the projector. Immediately, the lights in the audience chamber were doused, and a sphere of color, representing Naboo, suddenly began rotating above the projector.
"Currently, our fleet is positioned here." Wedge pointed, and a multitude of dots appeared on the dayside of the planet. "The bulk of our numbers are snubfighters, but we do have two Super Star Destroyers, three Interdictor–class, and four standard. We also have two Mon Cal Cruisers and five Carrack Light-class cruisers. Aside from the professional fighter wings, we also have three elite squads ready to be scrambled – Rogue Squadron, Twin Suns squad, and one in training."
Wedge trailed off and turned to look at Leroy. "Commander Corsurge, what is the designation of your fighter group?"
Leroy blushed as all eyes turned to him, and he straightened in his couch. "Uh, we have no permanent title yet, General. As of now we're just being called Green Squadron."
Wedge smiled. "Reminds me of my days with the Wraiths. Thank you, Commander." He turned back to the holoprojector. "Commander Corsurge's Green Squadron completes our arsenal. Now, our attack plan."
Antilles turned and looked at the man seated between Leroy and Cal Omas. "Mr. Scaur is head of our intelligence. You have the floor, Mr. Scaur, if you please?"
Dif Scaur nodded once and rose to his feet. "Our sensors and scoutships have determined that the Vong are rapidly approaching us from the general direction of Falleen." As he spoke, a mass of glowing dots appeared on the opposite side of the pseudo-planet from where the fleet was located. Many, many more than represented the Alliance numbers.
"They will most likely make attempts at a ground assault. This conclusion has been gleaned from the massive numbers of landships among the enemy fighters. We have determined their numbers to be drastically more than our own, but that ratio does not include the forces of the Imperial Remnant."
Scaur looked back to Wedge. "General?"
Wedge must have seen both Queen Janitte and her Gungan Senator stiffen at the mention of a ground assault, because he turned to them again as Scaur seated himself again. "There is no need to fear ground attack, we hope. Our plan is to use the planet to our advantage. We will split the fleet and move half of it around Naboo's dayside, half, through its nightside. Our snubfighters will ensure that no landing craft touch down, so I must warn you that there will most likely be some fighting in the lower troposphere.
"In the event that some Yuzzhan Vong touch down on the planet, what ground forces we have will be dispatched to the location. Also, Master Skywalker has volunteered his Jedi to stay on the ground and fight as well. All of these will be on standby, ready to receive coordinates for their attack."
Luke, who had listened to the meeting in a state of complete silence, nodded once to this announcement. "We will not be quick to shed blood, M'Lady, but if it must be done, then we shall perform our task in due time."
Queen Janitte rested her head against the back of her throne and closed her eyes. "We haven't had a war on Naboo since before the Clone Wars."
"And it is our intention to have it remain that way," Wedge said, drawing attention back to the projector. "Now, we already know that we alone do not have enough ships to completely destroy the Vong as it stands. Our hope is that the Imperial forces under Grand Admiral Gilad Pallaeon will arrive about halfway through the battle."
Another group of dots appeared, these directly behind the Vong. "Admiral Pallaeon – as we have planned via what limited communications we've risked – will strike from Rodia, and hopefully we will catch the Vong in a net. Assuming that our enemy does not have a Yammosk to coordinate their attacks, things will go smoothly."
"Our scouts have returned negative for any sign of a Yammosk, General Antilles," Scaur affirmed.
Thank the gods. For a moment, Leroy thought he might have murmured his gratitude aloud and quickly looked around to see if anyone had heard.
Wedge turned to the Queen as the lights in the chamber came back up and the map of Naboo space disappeared. "Does this plan meet with your approval, M'Lady?"
Janitte frowned. "It doesn't allow much room for error, but I am confident in your abilities. It's the best we've got, and since we have no forces to add to your numbers, I have no right to argue your plans."
Wedge bowed to the Queen and returned to his seat.
The Gungan cleared his throat. "Before this meeting is concluded, wesa have a few requests to be made."
Leia settled back in her couch. Han, seated next to her, sought her hand and held it in one of his own.
Leia nodded to the Queen. "Please."
"First," the Gungan said, "Wesa need to be informed of all that is going on. Yousas won't be keeping wesas in the dark, okeday?"
Gods, Leroy thought in aggravation, praying he'd never encounter a Gungan ever again in his lifetime.
Dif Scaur nodded, apparently indifferent to Swenson's annoying habit of speaking. "Of course. Any new intelligence we gather, we'll send directly to you."
"Good," Swenson said. "Secondly, wesa is wanting a pilot to fly in yousa's Rogue Squadron."
Leroy drew his brows together in surprise. What?
He glanced at the rest of the diplomats and noticed similar reactions amongst them all – most notably in Colonel Darklighter and General Antilles.
Wedge cleared his throat and sat up straighter in his seat. "You want a pilot in Rogue Squadron? Why?"
Queen Janitte sighed. "My daughter is impetuous and has demanded to be allowed to take part in the battle. Her views of society are not the same as mine, and she has no love for sitting by idly. Please accept her into your squadron."
Colonel Gavin Darklighter licked his lips and leaned forward. "Pardon me, M'Lady, but there are several complications here. One, has your daughter any experience in a snubfighter?"
Janitte nodded. "She has flown with our wing of starfighters before, but not in conflict."
Leroy winced. Strike one.
Gavin chewed his lower lip, trying to find the best way to refuse the request diplomatically. "Two, there isn't any room in the Rogue Squadron roster. I apologize, but all twelve slots are filled."
"As it is for Twin Suns," Luke Skywalker added. "If your daughter is to be involved in the conflict, would you not prefer her to be with the ground troops? If you would like, she can be brought under the Jedi's protection."
"Thank you, Master Jedi, but no. She has no experience in that area and she would become a bother to you. What about any of the professional squadrons, General Antilles? Is there any room in –?"
"Queen Janitte?" Leroy had risen to his feet before he even knew what he was doing. He bowed low to her, then continued. "Pardon my interruption, but Green Squadron is currently three pilots short of a full roster. My XO and I will have to put your daughter through extensive training, but… we would be happy to have her."
He glanced at Wedge, and gained confidence from the General's nod of approval.
"As it is, we're all undergoing some crash courses already," Leroy concluded.
Queen Janitte cocked her head to one side. "You will take responsibility for my daughter's life, Commander?"
Leroy swallowed. "Of course, M'Lady."
Janitte smiled. "Thank you, Commander. My daughter will be pleased. She has the utmost respect for authority and will gladly undergo the most rigorous of training in order to be fit for the squadron."
Leia gave Leroy a small smile as he sat back down, and the Commander returned it weakly.
Didn't think before you dove into that one, did you, Leroy? Almost made a complete idiot of yourself there, all because you leapt without looking. Can't fly without sensors here, old boy.
Leia turned back to the queen. "Will that be all, my Lady?"
The Queen nodded. "For now. Thank you all again for your patience. Let us put this plan into action and pray that the Imperial forces arrive on time."
The Alliance delegates all got to their feet, and the Gungan helped the Queen to hers. Janitte beckoned to Leroy and Wedge in turn.
"Come with me, and I will introduce you to my daughter, Commander. General, I would introduce you to the Defender Wing pilots. Maybe with our combined strengths, we can finally bring these Yuzzhan Vong invaders to their knees."
These ships are built for show, not combat.
General Wedge Antilles frowned as he and Gavin Darklighter followed the Naboo Captain Bynuard on their tour of the palace hangar.
They almost seem too delicate to fly at all.
Bynuard was a quiet man, tall and with finely chiseled features. He stood about an inch shorter than Gavin, two shorter than Wedge, but his authoritative mannerisms kept him from being dwarfed by the two warriors.
"Defender Wing has never been used for combat purposes, only as escorts," Bynuard was saying. "My six pilots have been trained in combat, but only one of them has actually seen action – he is not native to Naboo."
Not going to serve too much purpose but fodder for the Vong guns. Unless they've got the speed.
Shaped almost like boomerangs, the Xj71s were painted yellow with silver trim and consisted of approximately the same mass as a Y-Wing. In terms of speed, the Xjs boasted engines that could put them at speeds equivalent to those of a TIE interceptor. Their arsenals consisted of two laser cannons mounted in the nose of the fighter, directly in front of the cockpit, but no missiles or warheads of any type.
I guess the pilots will have to make up in skill what they lack in firepower.
Wedge glanced at Gavin, his longtime friend, and arched an eyebrow. The Colonel grimaced in return, showing that his feelings towards the Defenders was one of skepticism as well.
If we actually have to utilize them, I don't think that the Vong will find them worthy of conflict, Wedge mused. They'll slaughter them.
Bynuard seemed to sense that his tourists were preoccupied and he stopped to look at them. "Sirs, I know that this group is not much, but it is all we have. You must understand that we have not seen real conflict here on Naboo since the Clone Wars."
Wedge held up his hands. "I understand, Captain, I am merely speculating that your wing will need some… ah… informal training."
He gestured towards Gavin. "I'm sure that Colonel Darklighter would be happy to have your pilots fly against some of his Rogues to polish up their skills."
Gavin nodded. "Certainly. If it will keep them alive, then gladly."
Bynuard nodded solemnly. "Thank you, Colonel. Once you've seen the way my pilots can fly, you will see that they won't let you down."
Wedge sighed. "For all our sakes, I hope so. Otherwise, when the time comes, they'll just be fodder for the Vong guns, just like the rest of us."
Bynuard grinned roguishly. "Then, the Vong will find us bitter to chew. May I ask you something, General?"
Wedge, who had been looking the Xj's over, turned back to the Captain. "Of course."
The shorter pilot didn't answer immediately. Folding his hands at the small of his back, he gazed out of the hangar and into the sunlit sky. Finally, he spoke, keeping his gaze even with Wedge's.
"What was it like the first time you flew in combat, General?"
Wedge was slightly taken aback by the question, and he had to actually think to remember.
It seems like so long ago. My first real dogfight was at the Death Star over Yavin.
A flashback set itself in his mind, and he remembered his white–knuckled grip on the X-Wing's steering yoke as he stared out at the massive black hulk that was the Death Star. The station had seemed invincible – just like the Empire itself – and all he could think about was Corellia and his family, and friends like Tycho Celchu, whom he would never see again.
"Look at the size of that thing," he remembered saying, watching the Death Star grow bigger and bigger.
Right before Dave told me to pay attention to what I was doing. I was just a boy trying to be a hero.
Wedge looked up at Bynuard again, realizing that the man was waiting for him to answer.
"I see what you mean. The emotion I felt when I first flew was mixed fear and invincibility, and truth be told, I gave the enemy hell." A quick look at Gavin told Wedge that the Colonel had been taken back to his early days with Rogue Squadron as well.
Wedge stepped forward and clapped a hand on Captain Byunard's broad shoulder.
"Your boys will do fine," the General said, smiling down at the shorter man. "Together, we'll make the Vong regret ever backing us into this corner."