As she spoke she quietly refolded the blue triangle of Walallan vellum which a courier had placed in front of her a few moment before, and set it aside.
The act did not escape Ackbar’s notice, since only one of his eyes was trained on the window. “Is that the letter from Senator Peramis? “
Leia nodded. “And? “
“It’s pretty humble, ” she said.
“Excellent. “
She nodded again. “I wish I had Behn-kihlnahm’s gift. He almost never leaves thumb bruises on the throats of his vict-of the people he’s persuading. “
“You must find out where he buys his gloves, ” said Ackbar. The Duskhan transport was on the ground now, and the escorts were disappearing one af ter another into a landing bay near the top of the sphere. “Do you have meetings scheduled with Nil Spaar? “
“In ten days. “
“That long? You should allow the First to handle some of the smaller worlds on your schedule. Not merely meeting their delegations-the entire admission process. “
“Showing them that they’re going to be second-class members of the New Republic? I don’t think so. “
“There must be a way to shift some of the weight you’re carrying to other shoulders. “
“I’ll take suggestions, ” she said. “But Nil Spaar asked for the delay. He’s never been to Coruscant before. He said he wants to explore a bit before negotiations occupy him. “
“I see, ” said Ackbar. “Perhaps he’s the one sending a message. “
“I’m not sure, ” Leia said. She reached out and pulled a datapad across the tabletop toward her. “Well, Admiral-now that it’s operational, what shall we do with the Fifth Fleet? “
“A trickier question than I thought it would be, ” admitted Ackbar. “Tig Peramis has shown us what we can expect if there is even the appearance of gunboat diplomacy. “
Leia frowned. “I don’t want us afraid to show the flag where it might help cooler heads prevail. “
“Then I would like to send the new fleet into the Seventh Security Zone, ” said Ackbar. “I know of several worlds which would welcome even a short visit from a New Republic ship. And I can think of at least five pins on the trouble map where a legitimate government has asked for our help, on matters where even Senator Peramis can’t object if we intervene. “
“Give me an example. “
“There was a new one this morning, ” Ackbar said, folding his hands. “The Right Earl of Qalita Prime is appealing for help in dealing with pirate raiders. Six ships have been attacked within a month, four of them successfully. The cargo syndicates are threatening to stop supplying the planet. “
“Good. Very good! Go ahead and put together a patrol itinerary for the Fifth Fleet, ” said Leia. “Make sure it’s heavy on tea parties and rescuing lost children. If there’s anyone else in the Seventh Security Zone who thinks the way Senator Peramis does, I want his fears put to rest. “
“I can have an itinerary ready before the end of the day. “
They talked for several minutes more, discussing the deployment of the rest of the New Republic’s space-going forces. The Second Fleet had been on patrol the longest without home leave and shipyard services, while the First Fleet had been enjoying the perks of serving as Coruscant’s defense force for nearly as long.
On Ackbar’s recommendation, Leia agreed to recall the Second Fleet and to send the First Fleet to replace it along the crucial border patrol routes the crews called Thunder Alley.
“It should have been done sooner, ” said Ackbar, “but we have had too few pieces to move about the board. I have limited myself to rotating individual vessels back to the yards, out of fear some enemy would take advantage. But if we hold the Fifth Fleet here a few days longer, we can make the exchange without leaving either the capital or the frontier unprotected. “
“Do you think there’s an enemy still out there? “
Leia asked. “Someone with both the means and the will to take on the entire New Republic? I find myself much more worried about our stability than our security. “
“You have that luxury-I do not, ” Ackbar said. “And remember that Admiral Daala is still alive, and has the resources of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Core worlds to draw upon. She can only grow stronger as time passes, and may well have spies in Imperial City. “
At that moment Leia’s comlink chirped. “Leia? ” It was Tolik Yar. “You’re needed here at the Senate. There’s a problem with Y’taa petition. “
Leia stood up from the table. “I’m on my way. “