Han gave her a look that was half scowl, half puzzlement. “I’m not sure how to respond to a statement like that,” he said. “Except with violence.”
Lieutenant Yorvin suddenly discovered herself flanked by Wedge Antilles and Tycho Celchu. “You seem to be asking to suck space,” Wedge said.
“I’m sorry?”
“Perhaps the term isn’t common in the Kuat flavor of Basic,” Tycho said. “What he’s asking, Lieutenant, is whether you’d like to patch the station exterior without wearing an enviro-suit.”
“I don’t-I’m not-“
“Shhh,” Wedge said. “Listen. Yes, an investigation is about to happen, but you’re not in charge. We are. Here are your orders.”
“First,” Tycho said, “shut up. Second, lock down this entire habitat. Seal off the connection to Toryaz Station, then shut and seal every door, allowing them to be opened only from your security station.”
“Speaking of which,” Wedge said, “is there an auxiliary security station? Somewhere that can override security controls from the bridge and the main security office?”
“Yes, sir.” Lieutenant Yorvin’s attention flickered back and forth between the two pilots, and the comprehension dawning on her face suggested that she was beginning to understand what she would and would not be able to do in this situation. “But it’s easier to-“
“Do it from there,” Tycho said. “And send us your captain, what’s-his-name…”
“Tawaler,” Wedge supplied. “Also, no body, no weapon, no scorch mark, no splash of spilled caf is to be touched.”
“Don’t touch the security recordings without our say-so,” Tycho added. “Just stand by in the security station and be prepared to open doors or provide information whenever I call for it, or General Antilles, or Admiral Pellaeon, or Master Skywalker, or anyone we designate.”
Lieutenant Yorvin tried one last time. “But-this isn’t the way things are done.”
Wedge turned back toward Pellaeon. “Admiral, if these people don’t do exactly as we say, is Toryaz Station going to be paid for rental of this habitat?”
“No, it’s not.” Pellaeon, once again in full-dress uniform, settled back in an overstuffed chair.
“If they continue to obstruct this investigation, are they going to be sued?” Tycho asked.
Pellaeon nodded, looking like a kindly old grandfather reluctant to give had news. “And they’ll lose. Oh, how they’ll lose.”
Wedge looked back at the officer. “Dismissed,” he said.
She left. More precisely, she fled, nearly banging her nose on the lounge door as it slid out of her way almost too slowly.
“Since there’s only one party here that is plausibly neutral,” Wedge said, “I propose we hand coordination of this situation over to Master Skywalker and his Jedi.”
“I agree,” Pellaeon said. “Which is not to say that I only want Jedi looking into it.”
“Don’t worry,” Luke said. “I’ll be happy to draw on everyone’s strengths.” He frowned. “Allow me the first question here, Admiral. Do you routinely have a double along with you?”
The old officer shook his head. “But then, I don’t routinely go on diplomatic missions. The double, and swapping out of the bedchambers we’d been assigned for others that were supposed to be empty, were notions of General Celchu’s. And they saved my life.”
“Actually,” Tycho corrected, “it’s something Wedge and I settled on together.”
Pellaeon stage-whispered, “This treasonous collaboration has got to stop.” His expression suggested he didn’t mean it.
Luke turned to Wedge. “But Saxan wasn’t protected by the same measures.”
Wedge nodded. “I recommended they be implemented, but remember, I’m not-I wasn’t-in charge of the Prime Minister’s security the way Tycho is in charge of the admiral’s. I was overruled by her security chief, fellow named Tommick. He’s among the dead.”
Han frowned. “Not Harval Tommick?”
Wedge nodded again.
“A member of Thrackan Sal-Solo’s political machine,” Han continued. “What’s someone like that doing in charge of security for a political rival?”
Wedge offered up a humorless smile. “In his secondary capacity as Minister of War, Sal-Solo was able to insist that Saxan’s security be ‘augmented’ by Tommick’s crew. Tommick’s crew took over.”
“Who’s going to take over as Five World Prime Minister?” Luke asked. “Saxan’s deputy?”