by James Luceno
“Behold your leader,” Tsavong Lah’s villip told the commanders in a voice garbled by space and time.
“Warmaster,” the two said as they lifted their eyes.
Each had learned of the warmaster’s role in the poisoning of Ithor and the downfall of Shedao Domain Shai. To dishonor Tsavong Lah was to court an untimely death.
The eyes of the facsimile fixed on Nas Choka. “Inform me of recent events, Supreme Commander.”
“We occupy the world called Tynna, Potent One, which fell to us with so meager a fight we might have deemed it unworthy were it not so well suited to our needs and our campaign.”
The eyes moved to Malik Carr. “I would hear more of this.”
“Tynna’s clement waters will one day furnish dovin basals of the size needed to remove the shields that guard Coruscant and other worlds of the Core. It is our conviction that the indigenous species—furred bipeds of diminutive size—can be reeducated and trained, and will make for able and affable tenders of our creations.”
“And as to Tynna’s importance to the conquest?”
“Potent One, the world will also serve as a staging area for eventual incursions into the Corellian and Bothan sectors.”
“Eventual, you say.”
“Tynna is but the first stage of a strategy that will speed us to the Core. To guarantee this, we entered into an agreement with the Hutts, the terms of which require that we apprise them of planetary systems to avoid in their dispersal of a ludicrous product called spice. We did so in complete expectation that they would either alert the New Republic, or that New Republic analysts would discover that spice was moving freely in some sectors and not at all in others, and leap to the conclusion that the latter provided a glimpse of our battle plan. Tynna was one of the worlds we cautioned the Hutts to avoid, along with Corellia and Bothawui. Tynna was deliberately won as a means of fortifying the disinformation.”
The villip was silent for a long moment. “The meager battle you waged suggests that the New Republic failed to behave as predicted. Otherwise, their fleet would have been lying in wait.”
“Testimony to the New Republic’s notion of cleverness, Warmaster,” Nas Choka answered. “Through the whole of the battle and its aftermath we observed spies observing us from a stealthy craft I’m certain they believe went undetected. To have met us in force might have saved the day for Tynna, but the New Republic is well aware that we have targets of greater significance in mind, so they purposely gave Tynna away.
“With tribute to Commander Malik Carr,” Choka continued, “I am now convinced that the same tactic will work for the planned assault. Many coralskipper pilots are readying themselves for the sacrifice the attack will require. And we will soon begin positioning autonomous dovin basals along the routes New Republic ships will use in jumping to the target once they learn the truth.”
“Then these Hutts alerted the New Republic?”
“I deem it of little consequence either way, Potent One. As a bonus, the Hutts will make for bountiful sacrifices when we’re finished with them.”
The facsimile’s eyes closed for a moment. “I am not fully swayed. Even if your assumption is correct—that the New Republic is now convinced that we mean to assail either Corellia or Bothawui—surely they have sufficient ships to safeguard both worlds.”
“They do, Warmaster,” Malik Carr said, “although Corellia remains relatively unprotected, while Bothawui enjoys the protection of a large flotilla.”
“The New Republic cares so little for Corellia?”
Nas Choka smiled faintly. “They wish us to think so, Potent One.”
“It has been our hope all along to maneuver them into fortifying only one of those worlds,” Malik Carr explained, “and the gods have favored us by providing help from an unexpected quarter. A New Republic senator informed the Hutts that Corellia conceals a trap of some sort.”
“A deceit.”
“Your pardon, Warmaster, but we have some reason to trust this human being. She may well be the same person who thought she was helping us by apprising our agents that the priestess Elan had defected.”
“Then you already know the identity of this betrayer.”
“Her name is Viqi Shesh, Potent One.”
“This bodes well,” Tsavong Lah’s villip allowed. “But delay any contact with her until your strategy is successfully executed. She may be of greater use to us once we are closer to the Core.” The villip began to close. “I leave the rest to you.”
“Your will be done, Potent One,” the commanders said in unison.
SEVENTEEN
Commodore Brand tried not to be distracted by the traffic that gushed horizontally and vertically past the transparisteel wall of the Advisory Council chambers, or by the cityscape itself, ignited to flickering splendor as that part of Coruscant turned away from the sun. Seated with their backs to the window wall, Chief of State Borsk Fey’lya and the now eight members that made up his council had nothing to focus on but Brand, who stood rigidly at a podium opposite them, reading from a screenful of notes prepared in haste by his staffers after an intelligence briefing on the fall of Tynna.
“What is significant,” Brand continued, “is that the assault was foreseen, and that alone affords provisional corroboration of the Intelligence division’s belief that the Hutts have been supplying us with data. In those systems where the Hutts have curtailed spice operations, the enemy has set its sights on a world. Whether the Hutts were aware of what they were doing in asking for forewarning regarding their smuggling enterprise is presently unknown—though we are looking into the matter—but the fact remains that Tynna, a transshipment point as opposed to an actual market, has not seen a spice vessel since the Hutts forged their pact with the Yuuzhan Vong.”
Fey’lya interjected a transparent snort of ridicule into Brand’s brief pause, then had the gall to offer a pretense of apology.
“I’m sorry, Commodore, but something seems to have become lodged in my throat. Please, carry on with your … report. I know that I speak for everyone in saying that I can scarcely wait to hear the rest.”
Brand refused to be rattled by the sarcasm. “At the moment, the only other systems where spice operations have been suspended are Corellia and Bothawui. It has yet to be ascertained in which order the Yuuzhan Vong mean to strike. But we do expect an attack sooner rather than later. For that reason it is the opinion of Admiral Sovv and the Defense Force that a decision is critical on the matter of the redisposition of New Republic warships.”
Brand activated the holoprojector table adjacent to the podium. Depressing a tile on the console built into the lectern’s sloping desk, he displayed a galactic map, faintly blue in the cone created by the projector’s modulasers.
“The Yuuzhan Vong have established and fortified what amounts to a resupply corridor that stretches from the Outer Rim to Hutt space. Since the battle at Obroa-skai they have been receiving a steady influx of warships and matériel, clearly in anticipation of launching a major offensive—their first since Ithor. Against such a formidable fleet, and without weakening our security in the Core or at Bilbringi, where harassment continues despite holding actions by the Imperial Remnant, we can mobilize and deploy a task force of vessels borrowed from battle groups currently in service at Commenor, Kuat, Ralltiir, and a score of other worlds. Should the Hapes Consortium vote to support New Republic efforts, some of their ships would also be allocated to the task force, which would be led by the heavy cruiser Yald, under my command.”
Brand paused again and planted his large hands on the podium. “Councilors, we have not discounted that the assembled intelligence could be a ploy to keep us from identifying a different target entirely, but at the same time we cannot afford to ignore the evidence.”
“Evidence,” Fey’lya grumbled. “Inferences, suggestions, remote possibilities, but certainly not evidence.” His violet eyes mocked Brand openly. “What has the command staff decided, with regard to this redisposition of naval power?�
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Brand motioned to the holograph. “As you know, we have been triaging in all sectors, allowing worlds like Gyndine and now Tynna to fall in order to safeguard others like Kuat, Bilbringi, and Commenor. Our actions—or shall I say inactions—have hardly endeared us to worlds that consider themselves to be in the path of invasion. Regardless, even if we can manage to amass a sizable task force, it will not be of sufficient size to provide adequate protection to both Bothawui and Corellia.”
He straightened to his full height. “After analyzing all available data, it is the conclusion of the command staff that Corellia is the target. Therefore, Admiral Sovv is recommending that all available ships and resources be moved to the Corellian sector as soon as possible.”
Fey’lya’s cream-colored fur bristled. “I thought as much,” he said in a flat, menacing voice. “You would, as you say, ‘triage’ Bothawui for the sake of saving Corellia. But I won’t have it.” He shook his head angrily. “I’m sorry, Commodore, but I refuse to authorize such action at this time. Your ‘evidence’ is too scanty.”
“No one said anything about abandoning Bothawui,”Brand rejoined. “The flotilla already there will remain in place. We are only trying to protect Corellia.”
“Protect the sacred Core, you mean.” The Bothan stood to regard his eight peers. “I wish the council to consider closely the source of this spicy intelligence. Commodore Brand would have you believe that it was gathered by the Intelligence division or gleaned through hours of painstaking investigation and analysis. But, in fact, it was brought to the attention of two officers of questionable standing in the intelligence community by a person of even more dubious reputation, who claims to be serving as a kind of ombudsman for the Jedi Knights—Talon Karrde.”
“I fail to see the pertinence of that,” Cal Omas said. “Talon Karrde is well known to this council.”
Fey’lya glared at him. “Well, of course you wouldn’t see the pertinence, Councilor Omas, because you fail to grasp that the Jedi would sooner rid the galaxy of Bothans than do anything to protect them.”
“The Jedi had nothing to do with our decision,” Brand argued.
Fey’lya made a gesture of dismissal. “We all know that the Jedi have been holding back, downplaying their role until such time as they might truly show their hand. With Bothawui defeated, they will do just that.”
“In what way have they been holding back?” Cal Omas interrupted. “They’ve done nothing less than lead this fight from the start, making a stand on Dantooine and Ithor while the senate insisted on thinking of the Yuuzhan Vong as a ‘local problem.’ ”
Fey’lya wasn’t unprepared to defend his accusations. “Consider what the Jedi are said to have accomplished when their little retreat on Yavin 4 was threatened by Imperial admirals Pellaeon and Daala, and how Luke Skywalker all but single-handedly turned the tide against the Yevetha with illusions. Then talk to me about their current contributions.”
He wagged his clawed forefinger at Omas. “Never underestimate what they are capable of, Councilor. Skywalker’s Jedi are not the Jedi Knights of old, but a surreptitious, ambitious new breed. With Bothawui occupied, they would be ready to make their move and take control of the senate.”
Chelch Dravvad of Corellia took on the fight. “The chief of state should learn to keep his private fears to himself. It is against the Jedi Code to spearhead an offensive, on the battlefield or in any other arena. In this the new Jedi are no different from the old. Skywalker and the rest are attempting to do what the Jedi have always done: uphold peace and justice without turning themselves into full-fledged warriors. If there is a growing misunderstanding of them, it owes to a lack of information. Perhaps by isolating themselves on Yavin 4 they are to blame for some of that. Perhaps their time would have been better spent demonstrating what they stand for. Even so, they have all our best interests at heart, and they certainly haven’t singled out the Bothans as their enemy.”
Fey’lya’s voice became higher pitched. “You’re wrong, Councilor. And I say again that, based on Commodore Brand’s data, I will not grant the command staff’s request that Corellia be reinforced.”
“Then I demand that the issue be put to a vote,” Omas said.
Fey’lya held up his hand to silence debate and looked pointedly at Brand. “What do your actual field agents tell you, Commodore? What do your analysts say? What are you hearing from the costly hyperspace probes you’ve sent out? Instead of relying on conjecture, we should be looking to hard data. We’d do just as well to seek the counsel of a fortune-teller as accept as truth what you’ve told us this afternoon.”
“Our findings are based on neither prophesy nor conjecture,” Brand said firmly. “The data supporting our decision are of a highly sensitive nature, but they are available for your perusal whenever you wish.”
Fey’lya sneered. “Oh, I’m certain you’ve concocted an airtight case, Commodore.” He scanned the eight councilors. “For the record, then, who will begin the vote?”
“I stand with the chief of state,” Fyor Rodan of Commenor declared. “I don’t trust Karrde or the Jedi. With enough popular support Skywalker knows the senate will be constrained to yield to his demands. Then it will only be a matter of time before the Jedi are overseeing all decisions. I warn you, allow Bothawui to fall and we’ll soon be headed for malevolent times—an empire disguised as a theocracy.” He stopped to take a breath. “Commenor will be threatened should Corellia fall, but I am compelled to vote against the Jedi, and for Bothawui.”
“Thank you, Councilor,” Fey’lya said.
“Why not take the battle to the Yuuzhan Vong before they completely outflank us?” Councilor Triebakk asked Brand through his droid translator.
Brand turned to the towering Wookiee. “That isn’t possible without leaving the entire Core unprotected. If we could put the Imperial Remnant and the Hutts at their back, or have the Hapan Consortium open a new front in the Mid Rim, a counteroffensive could be considered. But now is not the time.”
“I agree that we can’t afford to leave Coruscant or any of the Core Worlds open to attack,” Dravvad said, “but do you actually expect us to sit here and debate which world—Bothawui or Corellia—is more important to the New Republic?”
“Not more important, Councilor, more imperiled.”
“Stop wasting time,” Fey’lya snapped. “Your vote will go to Corellia and we all know it.”
Dravvad nodded his head once. “Just as yours must go to Bothawui.”
Fey’lya swung to Cal Omas. “Your vote.”
“Corellia—but not for the reasons you imagine. It simply makes no sense for the Yuuzhan Vong to have struck at Gyndine and Tynna if Bothawui has been their goal all along. Furthermore, Corellia is essentially defenseless, where Bothawui is already sufficiently defended. How would we appear to our constituents if we allowed a helpless system to fall—a system we made helpless, no less? We might as well convince Corellia to surrender.”
“Spoken like a true Alderaanian,” Fey’lya muttered. “Also, Councilor, you falsely assume that surrender to the Yuuzhan Vong guarantees survival. But that is another matter.” He turned to the Sullustan, Niuk Niuv.
“The Corellians have long wanted independence,” Niuv began. “We nearly went to war with them in recent memory over that very issue—a war that only strained relations to the breaking point. The New Republic is under no constraint to defend Corellia. But the fact of the matter is that Corellia’s lack of defenses will be its salvation. The Yuuzhan Vong will strike against Bothawui.”
“Your sense of direction is astute, Councilor,” Fey’lya remarked, “and I further applaud you for breaking ranks with Admiral Sovv.” He turned 180 degrees. “Councilor Triebakk. Do I even need ask?”
“I accept Commodore Brand’s data, and defer to the expertise of the command staff,” the Wookiee said through the translator. “The Yuuzhan Vong plan to use Corellia as a staging area to penetrate the Core—”
“There’s no need to b
elabor the point,” Fey’lya cut him off. He narrowed his eyes at Councilor Pwoe. “And you?”
The Quarren’s mask tentacles quivered and his baggy eyes narrowed in anger. “Corellia. As Councilor Omas said, Bothawui is adequately defended by some of the very Bothan Assault Cruisers it convinced the New Republic to finance some time ago.”
“And I can promise you that we will make use of all those cruisers, even if we have to withdraw them from the Core,” Fey’lya barked.
“Hasn’t it always been Bothawui’s aim to claim those ships as their own and prove itself mightier than Mon Calamari, Sullust, and Coruscant?”
Fey’lya smirked. “So Pwoe—disconcerted by Mon Calamari’s loss of the military prestige—votes not so much for Corellia as against Bothawui. Next!” He looked to Navik of Rodia.
Navik’s short snout bobbed. “Rodia’s proximity to Bothawui leaves me little choice.” He nodded affirmatively to Fey’lya.
The chief of state nodded back and commenced a head count. “Pwoe, Omas, Triebakk, and Dravvad in favor of Corellia. Myself, Rodan, Niuv, and Navik in favor of Bothawui.”
Everyone looked at the council’s ninth and newest member.
“I’m afraid the decision falls to you,” Fey’lya said.
Commodore Brand waited, expectantly.
“Even with the evidence of Tynna to support a possible threat to Corellia, an attack on the Core makes no sense strategically. If the Yuuzhan Vong were going to launch an offensive so far from their present stronghold in Hutt space, why would they waste valuable resources engaging a system we essentially stripped of defenses after the Centerpoint Station crisis rather than strike at a more appropriate target, like Kuat or Brentaal? No, I say all things point to an attack on Bothawui—from Hutt space and now from Tynna. I stand with Chief of State Fey’lya.”
Fey’lya breathed a long sigh of relief. “I commend your flawless reasoning, Senator Shesh.” He smiled ruefully at Commodore Brand. “The matter is resolved. Assemble your task force, Commodore, but steer it to Bothawui.”
