by James Luceno
Hath Monchar, Rune Haako, and Commander Daultay Dofine looked at Gunray in
stark apprehension.
"I meant no offense, my Lord," he stammered.
Sidious was briefly quiet. If only they could see his eyes, they might
have had a hint of what he was thinking.
"Soon I will be taking steps to eliminate some of your other competitors,
" he intoned a moment later. "But that does not concern you. Instead, I want
you to devote your energies to becoming familiar with the capabilities of your
newly acquired toys--your battle droids, and starfighters, and landing craft.
Have Baktoid and Haor Chall Engineering been filling your orders on schedule?"
"They have, my Lord," Gunray said. "Though at exorbitant cost." "Don't try my
patience with talk of credits, Viceroy," Sidious warned. "There is more at
stake than the health of your financial accounts." Gunray was close to
trembling. "What would you have us do, my Lord?" "We are going to put your new
army to the test." Gunray and Hath Monchar exchanged fearful glances.
"A test?" Monchar said.
Sidious seemed to gaze at him for an uncomfortably long time. "I suspect
that you are hardly thrilled by the senate's sanction of taxation of the trade
routes," he said at last.
Gunray nodded. "The senate has no right." "Of course not. And what better
way to demonstrate your displeasure than through a trade blockade." "Of
Eriadu," Gunray said eagerly. "Because of what happened--was "Eriadu would
respond with force, Viceroy. We don't want a war. We want an embargo." "Which
world shall it be?" Monchar said.
"I suggest we strike at the homeworld of the senator who was most
responsible for championing the taxation bill Naboo." "Naboo?" Haako said in
genuine bewilderment.
Sidious nodded. "Senator Palpatine is adept at dissembling his real
nature. You scarcely realize how much damage he has already caused." "But
would such a blockade be legal?" Gunray asked. "Valorum will never sit still
for it." "I have a surprise in store for feeble-tempered Valorum," Sidious
promised. "What's more, the scandal surrounding the Supreme Chancellor has led
many senators to rethink the taxation legislation. Few will grumble about a
trade embargo of a world so distant from the Core." Monchar stepped forward.
"And what of the Jedi?" "They are already constrained from interfering." "But
if they do, my Lord?" Gunray said.
"We will not be subtle in dealing with them." Gunray bowed his head.
"Once again, we place ourselves in your hands." Sidious smiled faintly. "As I
told you once before, Viceroy, you serve yourvs best when you serve me."
