[Black Fleet Crisis(57)

“But, Viceroy-“

“Now, I know you as they do not, and I know that your heart is not cold to our loss. But, you see, here is another way we are different your people and mine. And when the differences run so deep, it is easy to give offense. Perhaps inevitable. It is one of the dangers of closer contact. “

“I am so sorry, Viceroy, ” Leia said. “I meant no insult to those who died. You know I only want to try to see that no one else need die. Please-will you accept my apology? “

“Your apology is unnecessary, ” said Nil Spaar. “I do not judge you as I would judge Yevetha. It is enough. Let us speak of something else. “

“Good morning, Admiral, ” the voice on the comlink said. “Are you alone? “

Ackbar was momentarily taken aback. “I-Yes, go ahead. “

“There’s something you should know before you talk to the commander, ” Drayson said. “Nil Spaar gave her his answer a little while ago, and it was what she wanted to hear-that most of them are gone. But he never transmitted the list home. “

“Are you sure? “

“Yes. I don’t know what he did send, but it was far too short to have been the list. And there’s been no reply. “

“Does this mean that he is lying-or that he already knew where they are? “

“It may only mean he had all the records he needed already at hand. It’s impossible to say. “

“You should be telling Leia this, not me. “

“You know that’s not possible. She’s set on playing by the rules. “

“So what do I tell the general? ” Ackbar said, his voice rising in exasperation. “The Fifth sails in less than forty hours. “

“You’ll have a fight on your hands before that happens, ” said Drayson. “But tell him to be very, very careful. “

“-So you see, we can go back to the original plans for the Fifth Fleet, ” Leia said. “This needlessly provocative mission to Hatawa and Farlax isn’t necessary. There’s no Black Fleet hiding there. “

Admiral Ackbar scanned the list and handed it on to General A’baht, sitting to his right at the great conference table. “Princess, I do not believe this changes anything, ” Ackbar said. “It is my intention that General A’baht carry out the search mission as planned. “

“I don’t understand, Admiral, ” Leia said, her face showing open surprise. “I went to the viceroy and got you the answers you wanted. Why won’t you accept them? “

“This is meaningless, ” General A’baht said, dropping the list on the table. “There’s no documentation, no proof. It’s only their word. “

“I’m satisfied that the viceroy’s word is good, ” Leia said.

“Why? ” challenged A’baht. “Because you like him? Have you led such a sheltered life that you’ve never been lied to by someone you liked before? “

“I believe him because he wants the same things I do. “

“Or is smart enough to let you believe he does. “

“General, ” Ackbar said reprovingly. “Princess, I must remind you that you are the one who agreed to meet with him alone. We are at a disadvantage in judging his motives. But that is not the issue. “

“What is? “

“Whether we are ready to accept that we are now a great power, ” said Ackbar. “Princess, a third of that region is now aligned with the Republic. Another third or more is unclaimed, uninhabited, or under dispute. Even if you accept the Duskhan hegemony over all of Koornacht, they control barely a tenth of the region. We have every right to be there. “

“Because no government there can stop us? ” demanded Leia. “Is that the morality you think the New Republic should be following? You sound more like an adviser to the Emperor. “

“Leia, we must follow our own principles, or they are meaningless, ” said Ackbar. “Under Article Eleven of the Charter, we proclaim a principle of free navigation. Both interstellar space and hyperspace are owned by none, and open to all. We recognize no territorial claims beyond the boundaries of a single star system. Do you believe in the principle of free navigation? “

“Of course. “

“Then there is no precedent for the Duskhan League’s claim to an entire star cluster, ” said Ackbar.

“I am willing to accept that we will choose not to enter Koornacht at this time. I am not willing to accept that we have no right to go there. “

“It’s what the Duskhan League is willing to accept that matters here. “

“Not more than our principles, ” said A’baht.