by James Luceno
"Within seventy-two standard hours."
Luke glanced around the tables, his gaze lingering slightly, almost clandestinely, on Wedge, Tenel Ka, and Keyan Farlander. "All of you are in agreement on this?"
Kre'fey nodded, seemingly for everyone. "But that's not to say that we won't delay the countdown, or even rethink the operation if you can show good cause for our doing so. We didn't invite you here as a mere courtesy. The Jedi have played an instrumental role in thi: war from the start, and we have come to rely on your guidance, as we as your special strengths. I hope your months of... journeying n' given you insight into some way of ending this war."
"They have," Luke said.
Sow looked at him. "Just where have you been, Mal Skywalker?"
"In the Unknown Regions, searching for Zonama Sekot."
"The planet you appear to have ushered into the Coruscant
,stem," Brand said' S' T ke turned to the human commodore. "I had no more to do
ushering Zonama Sekot into known space than I did with de-
•np- the planet's hyperspace engines. It came of its own volition." signing, r
"It?" Brand said.
"Zonama Sekot," Luke repeated.
Kre'fey and Brand swapped perplexed glances. "We're eager to hear your reaction to our plans," the Bothan said.
Luke nodded. "When I learned that you'd moved the combined fleets from Mon Calamari, I assumed that Coruscant was to be the
target."
"Were we wrong to reposition?"
"No," Luke said emphatically. "With the HoloNet incapacitated, the closer we are to Coruscant, the better."
"Corulag is closer still," Sow said in a leading way.
Luke firmed his lips. "Corulag is too close. By moving there we're certain to provoke a response from the Yuuzhan Vong."
Sullustan Niuk Niuv spoke to it. "The Yuuzhan Vong are going to want to finish what they began at Mon Calamari. Whether the flotilla repositions or holds fast, an enemy response is guaranteed."
Niuv had long been opposed to Jedi intervention in military matters. Some had interpreted his split from would-be Chief of State Pwoe after the Battle of Borleias as a hopeful sign, but, in fact, his presence on the Advisory Council was little more than an accommodation to lingering anti-Jedi sentiment.
"Not necessarily," Luke said. "The presence of Zonama Sekot has thrown Coruscant into turmoil. By now the so-called heretics are nsmg up, and the elite and the military are divided on what course of
on they should take. The hyperspace jump was designed to bring 15 a°°ut. The fact that the timing was so fortunate—that Zonama
°t s arrival drew the Yuuzhan Vong armada from Mon Calamari—
mces me that our actions were right. As a means of continuing
we've started, I hope to persuade you to allow the disorder on
nascant to play out. If we do this, it's my belief that Shimrra will be
1 II
brought down from within, and that we can then reach an accord w' the Yuuzhan Vong warmaster."
Luke's statement unleashed a torrent of criticism and reb t With everyone speaking at once, Mara leaned in to whisper, « come to the downhill stretch."
Luke's confidence in the heretics was not all it might have be considering that the so-called Prophet was none other than N0 Anor. But given the galvanizing effect Zonama Sekot had had the heretics, it was possible that the movement had taken on a life o its own.
"The reports we have received corroborate that Coruscant is in turmoil," Kre'fey allowed when most of the separate conversations had died down. "Which is precisely the reason to strike. The Yuuzhan Vong may never be this weak again. Yes, Shimrra stands a chance of being brought down by the heretics, but it's not Shimrra we're worried about. We're worried about the armada. We succeeded in inflicting damage at Mon Calamari, and unless we follow through now, we fear we'll lose what scant advantage we have."
"The armada isn't any weaker now than it was when Mon Calamari was attacked," Kenth said. "What damage we did has been offset by the arrival of Yuuzhan Vong battle groups from far-flung sectors. More important, Coruscant's planetary shields — the dovin basal gravitic fields — have yet to be tested, let alone stormed."
"We're not concerned about the orbital dovin basals," Sow said in a dismissive way.
"Regardless, attacking Coruscant is not the solution," Luke added. "Under Shimrra's influence, the World Brain has the capacity to render the entire planet uninhabitable. So unless that's our aim, we must rethink our strategy."
"The matter of the World Brain was raised at earlier briefings, Sow said succinctly. "With all due respect, Master Skywalker, that
information has never been confirmed."
« "We will also have the advantage of fighting in our home system,
Brand said. "Our pilots will be able to fly circles around the Vong' lead them on chases, attack from Weerden, Thokos, Salliche • • Thanks to what the Remnant has provided, we now know routes in
i
i ollt of the Deep Core that the Vong haven't explored. Insertion •nts from Empress Teta; exit points up and down the Ag Circuit. V1 -it's more, we don't have to worry about inflicting secondary a^c on the planetside population—not all of it, at any rate." Kre'fey regarded Luke. "You must understand, if it were any rid other than Coruscant . . . But retaking Coruscant is funda-ental to building and maintaining the Galactic Alliance. Who con--)]s Coruscant controls the Core, and without the Core the Alliance
is nothing."
Luke set his elbows on the table and interlocked his fingers.
"You're thinking like the New Republic did."
"You were a member of the New Republic, Master Skywalker,"
Niuk Niuv's hologram said.
Luke nodded. "But this is a different war. A war that can't be won the way you're planning to win it. Would you annihilate every Yuuzhan Vong in order to free Coruscant and all other occupied worlds?"
"We might," Brand said.
"Was that the intent when Alpha Red was deployed?"
The question hung in the air for several moments before Sien Sow spoke. "Alpha Red is not under discussion at this conference."
"Then it's not terminated?" Cilghal asked worriedly.
"I will say again that the project is not under discussion."
Kre'fey was quick to change the subject. "We have a window of opportunity that could seal itself at any moment. How long would the
Jedi have us wait?"
Luke frowned. "It's not a matter of days or weeks. The Yuuzhan Vong have demonstrated time and again that they won't surrender. It's no more in their nature than a policy of extermination is in ours." He looked around. "Unless all of you have changed dramatically in
mV absence."
"Would you cede them Coruscant?" Airen Cracken asked. 'If I thought it would end the war, I might." "That's a treasonous statement," Brand said, then softened his e to add: "We've had our disagreements in the past. Can we trust e Jedi not to interfere with what we have to do?" "We won't interfere."
Kre'fey shot Brand a warning look. "For the sake of argum and in the spirit of good fellowship, what would you have us do vh-i we're waiting for things to unravel on Coruscant?"
"Divide and redistribute the combined fleets," Kenth said "TV patch battle groups to Bothawui, Bilbringi, and other essential World Reclaim those systems while the Yuuzhan Vong are preoccupied wi h the heretics. Then, when they are truly at their weakest, move again Coruscant from as many systems as possible."
Sow made a fatigued sound. "Perhaps the Jedi are unaware th several Yuuzhan Vong battle groups have not heeded Nas Choka' orders to withdraw to the Core. Rather, they appear determined to hold on to the systems they've conquered, regardless of what happens at Coruscant."
"The dereliction of those commanders has nothing to do with maintaining superiority," Luke said. "They're afraid that they will be ordered to attack Zonama Sekot."
Kre'fey shook his head in confusion. "Why shou
ld they be afraid? Just what is this planet to them?"
Luke stood up, encouraging everyone to focus on him. "Everything the Yuuzhan Vong might have been." He paused, then added: "Fifty years ago, when the Yuuzhan Vong were first scouting our galaxy, they attempted to claim Zonama Sekot, and the planet fought them off. As a living world, it figures deeply in their religion, and its sudden reappearance is viewed as an omen of defeat—a sign from the gods that the invasion itself was a terrible mistake. In some respect, the Shamed Ones view the planet as important to their destiny—their liberation—and they will revolt if Shimrra sanctions an attack. But the real danger to Shimrra will come finally from his elite, some of whom are bound to see Zonama Sekot as a divine intervention."
Kre'fey stared at Luke in wonder. "How do you come by this knowledge?"
Luke turned to the admiral. "From the lips of a Yuuzhan Vong priest, who even now is on Zonama Sekot."
Brand narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "How do you know tha this 'priest' isn't a spy?" He looked imploringly at Sow. "If word o our operation gets back to this priest—
"Zonama Sekot knows the Yuuzhan Vong," Luke insisted. "It to deal with them. It is more like the original Yuuzhan'tar ,ollt can ever be made to seem." was clearly in a quandary. "You keep saying it. Are you
referring to the planet itself?"
"Yes."
Sow was beginning to lose patience. "If Zonama Sekot has some cret plan for ending the war—as either mediator or battle station—it had better act quickly. As things stand, I see no reason to alter our plans for moving against Corulag."
"There's no room for neutrality at this stage," Brand said. "You're part of the Alliance or you're against it."
Gilad Pellaeon broke a brief but uneasy silence. "I've been reluctant to broach this. But Imperial records suggest that former Grand Moff Tarkin once expressed interest in Zonama Sekot, based on rumors that the planet was capable of producing
living ships."
Sow and the others watched Luke.
"Is that the planet's secret?" the Sullustan asked. "Is Zonama Sekot planning to wage its own war on the Yuuzhan Vong?" "Zonama Sekot will not produce warships," Luke said flatly. Kre'fey gave his head a mournful shake. "Master Skywalker, unless Zonama Sekot's governing body is at least willing to permit the planet to be employed as a staging area for the assault on Coruscant, it is of no use to us."
"The . . . governing body won't permit that." "Then can we at least employ it as a diversion?" Brand asked. "If, as you say, it has already destabilized the Yuuzhan Vong, perhaps we can make it appear more of an actual threat. If the Vong can be induced to attack Zonama Sekot, we may have a clear shot at Coruscant."
Luke considered it. "It may be willing to do that."
Kre'fey put his hands flat on the table. "It's now or never.
I'll
grant that attacking Coruscant constitutes a perilous risk, but
1 s one we have to take. We can't afford to be placed on the defen-e again. Scatter the fleets, and who knows how many additional
Thinking about it only increased Jaina's disappointment and
systems might fall. We simply don't have the resources to ju from one to the other each time the enemy launches an attack Att-' tion will become our enemy." He looked at Luke and the others «T realize that the Yuuzhan Vong are still strong. But battles aren' always about numbers—as you well know, Master Skywalker, havi turned the tide of the Civil War with a couple of well-placed proto torpedoes."
"I had help with that," Luke said.
"Are you suggesting that the Force isn't with us now?" Sow asked.
"The Force is always with us, Admiral."
"Then we can rely on your help?" Kre'fey said.
Luke nodded and motioned to the Anx Jedi, Madurrin. "What Jedi we can spare will continue to serve on the bridges of our capital ships, as they did at Ebaq Nine and Mon Calamari." He was about to add more, when Tycho Celchu suddenly entered the war room.
Before Tycho so much as uttered a word, Luke caught Cilghal's sharp intake of breath.
"Please forgive the interruption, Admiral Sow," the blue-eyed human general said in a low voice. "I regret to inform everyone that my wife, Winter, has just contacted me from Mon Calamari, with news that retired admiral Ackbar has died."
As she approached Zonama Sekot's landing platform, Jaina saw that Corran, Kyp, Tekli, Alema, and several of the other Jedi had gathered while she had been off searching for Jacen.
With five seed-partners apiece, Kyp and Saba had bonded with the highest number. Fist-sized, fuzzy white orbs, the seed-partners had attached themselves to Kyp's robe and Saba's tunic. Corran had four, while Kyle, Lowbacca, Alema, and the other candidates were hosting only two apiece.
Jabitha had said that Anakin Skywalker had bonded with nine— the highest number anyone had ever bonded with. The Magister had also explained that when the seed-partners eventually sloughed their shells they would be able to crawl about on four tiny legs, and issue shrieks and whimpers.
confuson.
7onarna Sekot's air was still a comfortable temperature, though
c \-irm as it had been when she first arrived. Reuniting with ot *s rvone had been wonderful, but after two local-days of swapping
er. She recalled havin felt
vone
ev
ries the inactivity was starting to get to her. She recalled having felt sime on Mon Calamari after her return from Hapes, while Luke d been occupied matching wits with Vergere, Jacen had been off •ei-diving with Danni, and the members of the Smugglers' Alliance had been busy rigging the election of Cal Omas.
With Coruscant a microjump sunward and a final confrontation with the Yuuzhan Vong looming on the horizon, she wanted more than ever to be back in the cockpit of her X-wing, if only to keep from losing her edge. But Twin Suns One, along with the Millennium Falcon, Tesar Sabatyne's skipray blastboat, and the other starfighters, remained in stationary orbit. That left only the Sekotan shuttle, which was off-limits to her, and the planet's numerous airships, which were more for sailors than fighter pilots.
She was considering her options, when Jacen stepped from a dense growth of boras.
"I've been looking all over for you," she said. "Where were you — practicing making yourself small or something?"
Jacen emerged from his trance or musings — or daydreams, for all Jaina knew — and gazed at her. "The Force is strong here. The usual methods don't work."
"That's for sure," she muttered.
Jacen watched her for a moment. "Are you angry about something?"
She pressed her lips together and shook her head. "I guess I'm just disappointed."
Jacen glanced at Kyp and the others and understood immediately. Because none of the seed-partners bonded with you."
"What else?" she snapped. "I mean, I'm as good a pilot as Kyp, ba> or Corran, and they bonded with seed-partners right away. Mon Calamari, I flew my X-wing into combat with only one engine!"
"Piloting skills have little to do with the bonding process," Ta said. "Or with courage, for that matter."
She forced a sigh. "Great. Then I guess I'm just not as attuned the Force as they are."
"You know that isn't it." Jacen placed his hand on her should and turned her toward him. "It could be that Sekot sees some oth purpose for you."
She rolled her eyes. "Easy for you to say. You didn't even trv bonding with the seed-partners."
The idea appeared to amuse him. "I'm not anything close to a pilot."
"Yeah, well, neither am I. I'm just the official Sword of the Jedi
whatever that means." She fell silent for a moment, then said, "Jacen do the Yuuzhan Vong pose a threat to the Force?"
He shook his head. "They're a threat to the Jedi, because they'd have all of us embrace their religion and their gods, and see the universe strictly as they see it. But no matter how the war is decided, individuals will continue to find their way to the Force. It's not a flame the Yuuzhan Vong can extinguis
h—any more than the Sith could."
"And you're still willing to fight to make sure that doesn't happen."
"In my own way. I've learned something about myself since Centerpoint."
"From Vergere, you mean."
"From Vergere, from Sekot, from all of you. I'm starting to think that the Force—at least as we understand it—is only one facet of a finely-cut gemstone, and that maybe the sum of it is even greater than its parts."
Jaina looked over at Kyp and the others. "At least Zonama Sekot is willing to fight alongside us."
"That will be Sekot's decision."
She turned to him. "Based on what? On whose interests the Jedi are serving?"
"We serve the Force," Jacen said. "None other."
i"
"Is that justification enough for obliterating the Yuuzhan Vong-"No," he said, seemingly more firmly than he had intended.
the war.
not out.de the Force. According to Sekot, they have been
said. "But, then, what do you think the
for the Yuuzhan Vong?"
lightlv. "If I knew, we'd have the answer to ending
L
ook at you—cowering like a herd of yanskacs!" the Supreme Overlord railed at the elite from his spike-backed throne in the Citadel's Hall of Confluence. "On the eve of victory you allow yourselves to be frightened by an illusion—a piece of celestial chicanery!"
Even while cringing with the rest of them, Nom Anor had to give Shimrra credit. Despite the tremors that continued to rock Yuuzhan'tar, and the dangerous innuendoes that threatened to undermine his divine right to rule, the Supreme Overlord refused to be intimidated—if not entirely unmoved. With his long arms jerking about and his legs quivering, he looked like a puppet in a shadow play-Some said that his implanted eyes, too, were rarely still, and were constantly shifting color.
Shimrra raised the Scepter of Power toward the hall's ribbed ceiling. "Some of you are whispering that the bright light that rises at sunset is an omen of doom—a living world rumored to have beer encountered during the rule of my predecessor, whose name I will not deign to mention. I am not unacquainted with this rumor. Followifl my ascension to the throne I dispatched forces to search out t world—this Zonama Sekot—only to be informed that it was not to t>
