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

face the Admiral. “Sir?” they asked in tandem.
    “What did you think about the pilots in the
Redemption
scenario?”
    Wedge looked over at his XO. “Did you get Horn?”
    Tycho blushed. “Oh, I got Horn, but just not as much of him as I would have liked.” Smiling proudly, he added, “Admiral, if the pilots I flew against are representative of the rest of the people we have to work with, Rogue Squadron should be operational within a couple of months, and the scourge of the Empire not very much longer after that.”

3
    Kirtan Loor struggled to keep a self-satisfied smirk from ruining the stern expression he had worked hard to cultivate. He wanted to appear implacable. He
needed
to be merciless.
    He feared he would fail on both counts, but laid the blame on his eagerness to confront an old nemesis finally brought to heel. What had been a blot on his record would soon be expunged. More importantly, people who had ridiculed him would learn they had grossly underestimated him. And in doing so they had doomed themselves.
    Kirtan held his head erect as he marched down the companion way on the
Expeditious
. The
Carrack
-class light cruiser had not been built to accommodate people of his height, so he felt some of his black hair brush against the ceiling. A more cautious man would have slumped his shoulders slightly and lessened the chance of bashing his head on a light fixture or bulkhead support. Kirtan, having once been told that he looked every inch a taller, younger Grand Moff Tarkin—from thinning widow’s peak and lanky frame to sharp features in a cadaverouslyslender face—did his best to emphasize the resemblance.
    Even though Tarkin was nearly seven years dead, the resemblance still earned him some respect. On an Imperial naval vessel, respect for an Intelligence officer such as himself was in short supply, so he took what he could get. The military arm of the Empire clearly resented having the government being run by the Emperor’s former Intelligence chief, and they took their displeasure out on the least of her servants.
    Kirtan ducked his head and entered the antechamber of the
Expeditious’
s brig. “I am here to interview the prisoner you took off the
Starwind.
”
    The Lieutenant in charge glanced at his datapad. “He just got back from medical.”
    “I know, I’ve seen the report.” Kirtan glanced at the hatchway leading to the detention cells. “He has been told nothing about the results?”
    The soldier’s face darkened. “I’ve been told nothing about the results. If he has a disease, I want him out before he infects the …”
    The Intelligence operative held a hand up. “Calm yourself, you’ll bounce your rank cylinder out of your pocket in a moment.”
    The Lieutenant raised a hand to check his rank badges and when he found them in place he blushed. “Play your little games with Rebel scum, not me. I have serious work to do.”
    “Of course you do, Lieutenant.” Kirtan flashed a smile that was more predator than comrade,
then
turned toward the detention cells. “Which one?”
    “Holding cell Three. Wait here while I get you an escort.”
    “I won’t need one.”
    “You may not think so, but he’s listed as ratinga four on the Hostility Index. That rating requires two officers to accompany an interrogator.”
    Kirtan shook his head slowly. “I know, I gave him that rating. I can handle him.”
    “Remember that when you’re in a bacta bath washing away his fingerprints.”
    “That I shall, Lieutenant.” Kirtan grasped his hands at the small of his back and started off through the hexagonal companionway. His black boots made a solid clanking sound on the metal grating and he measured his steps carefully to keep the sound rhythmic and daunting.
    The hatch to cell Three opened with a hiss of pressurized gas. Yellow light spilled out into the corridor and Kirtan folded himself halfway to double to fit through the opening. He paused inside the cell and stood tall. He narrowed