"Michael Stackpole "The Krytos Trap"" - читать интересную книгу автора

had been handy. Corran's flightsuit had been green, black,
and grey, since he'd brought it with him from the Corellian
Security Force. In homage to him, that color scheme was
used to create new uniforms for the squadron: evergreen
overall, with dark grey flank panels, black sleeves, leg stripes,
and trim. On the left sleeve and breast rode the Rogue
Squadron crest. It had also appeared on the evergreen
hawkbilled caps designed by a Kuati, but Wedge had vetoed
their addition to the uniform.
The makeup of the Squadron had also been adjusted.
Asyr Sei'lar, a Bothan pilot, and Inyri Forge, the sister of a
dead squadron member, had both been added to the squad-
ron. Wedge would have gladly welcomed them, and they had
been crucial to the success of the mission to liberate Corus-
cant, but they had been pressed upon him for political rea-
sons. Likewise, Portha, a Trandoshan, had been made a
member of the squadron despite his inability to fly. He was
attached to the unit as part of a previously nonexistent secu-
rity detail. Each of them was appointed by bureaucrats as a
reward to various constituencies in the New Republic, and
Wedge hated their objectification.
The ceremony grew out of all proportion until special
grandstands had to be grafted to the nearby buildings and
color-coded for the various levels of access people were to be
accorded. Holocams had been stationed at various positions
so the ceremony could be recorded and replayed on countless
worlds. Despite the very real fears about contracting the
highly contagious Krytos virus, the stands were packed to
overflowing.

He looked up from his position on the reviewing stand
and out at Rogue Squadron. His people were bearing up well
despite the bright sunlight and unseasonably warm weather.
The recent rains had raised the general level of humidity until
clothing clung and the very air lay like a smothering blanket
over everyone. The thick air seemed to deaden sounds and
suppress emotions, and Wedge was tempted to allow himself
to imagine that Coruscant somehow also mourned Corran's
passing.
In addition to the members of Rogue Squadron, Cor~
ran's other friends stood on the platform nearest the barrow.
Iella Wessiri, a slender, brown-haired woman who had been
Corran's CorSec partner, stood next to Mirax Terrik. De-
spite being the daughter of a notorious Corellian smuggler,
Mirax had managed to become friends with Corran. Mirax,
who had known Wedge since they had both been kids, had
tearfully confided in him that she and Corran had planned to
celebrate the liberation of Coruscant together. He could see
she'd fallen hard for Corran, and the lifeless expression on
her face made his heart ache.