By:  Aaron Allston Published by Bantam Books August 1999 The neutral world of Adumar has decided to pick a side in the war to control the galaxy.  Delegates from both the New Republic and the Empire have been invited to Adumar, and each camp will be given a chance to plead its goverment's case.  But there is one small catch:  since the Adumari prize military skill above all else, they insist that both delegations be composed exclusively of fighter pilots.  For pilot Wedge Antilles and his company, it's an unfamiliar exercise in diplomacy-and one that's filled with unexpected peril.  For once they arrive, the X-wing pilots are challenged by Adumar's fierce warriors and attacked by Imperial assassins bent on eliminating all competition.  But these challenges pale in comparison to the threat posed by a rogue Republic agent...one who is determined to win Adumar's allegiance once and for all--even if it costs the X-wing pilots their lives.

    At three clicks, Wedge said, "Break by pairs--"
    And the enemy fired.  Wedge saw eight flares, two from each oncoming fighter, as the enemy launched missiles.
    Wedge whipped to starboard and then instantly began to bring himself back in line with his enemies again.  The maneuver yanked him out of his approach vector. . . . but missiles accelerated so fast, and the enemy was firing so close, that his sideslip stood an even chance of forcing an overshoot by the missiles.  He saw twin burn trails flash back along his port side and knew he was right.
    A split second later, his targeting brackets crossed over one of the oncoming aircraft and flickered from yellow to green.  Wedge squeezed his yoke trigger and saw his lasers, red pulses, leap out toward the oncoming aircraft--
    He had a glimpse of the enemy, black fighter-craft, and then he was past them.  Sensors registered an explosion behind him and three targets beyond that, headed away but beginning tight turns back in his direction.