[Black Fleet Crisis] - 02(108)

The drafters of the Charter were wary about creating too strong an executive—one who, unchecked, might be able to accumulate more and more power over time and become a dictator in fact if not in name. The cold truth was that Palpatine’s reign had begun not with a coup, but with his gaining power largely by legitimate means.

As a check against that history being repeated, the Charter preserved the Ruling Council in the form of a supercommittee made up of the chairmen of the Senate Councils. The founders gave it the power both to void the election of a President and to initiate the recall of a sitting one. Ackbar had dubbed the Ruling Council “the speed brake on the ship of state.” But as often as it was spoken of, the Ruling Council met rarely, and had never been used for its intended purpose.

Until now.

The Council had already been seated, apparently arguing behind closed doors, for nearly an hour before Leia was brought in. Though a seat was provided for her, Leia chose to stand in the shallow well of the chambers.

Even that only placed her at eye level with the seven senators seated around the arc of the panel. At the center was Doman Beruss, the crystal pyramid and striker resting near his hand. Behn-kihl-nahm was to his left, but would not look at her.

“Madame President—Princess Leia—in the normal rotation, it would be Senator Praget’s turn to chair this session,” Beruss said. “However, due to the present circumstances, the Council has decided to advance the rotation to the next designated chair, so as to avoid any procedural conflicts. Do you have any objection to my chairing this session?”

So that’s what the delay was about, Leia thought. “I have no objection.”

“Very well,” said Betuss. “President Leia Organa Solo, you have been summoned before the Ruling Council for the discussion of a petition of recall against you.

“A duly constituted member of this body has presented articles calling for a vote of no confidence on the following grounds: One, exceeding your Charter authority.

Two, recklessly endangering the peace and the lives of citizens of the Republic. Three, issuing illegal orders to initiate hostilities against a sovereign state. Four, incompetence to properly carry out the duties of office.

“Do you understand your rights and obligations in regard to a petition of recall? If so, please state them in your own words.”

“I have the right to hear a specification of the cause of action. I have the right to present whatever witnesses and evidence I choose in defense of my actions and performance,” Leia said. “I have the obligation to answer fully and truthfully all questions which may be put to me, as well as the obligation to appear before the Senate in assembly should you vote to sustain the petition.”

“Very well,” said Betuss. “Senator Praget has brought the petition, and will lay out the specific articles.”

That took Leia by surprise—she had been expecting the complainant to be Borsk Fey’lya. “Senator,” she said with a nod.

Krall Praget eyed her briefly before he began, his gaze measuring her, judging her, ultimately dismissing her. For the duration of his presentation, he looked down along the curving table from his seat at the right end, addressing himself to Beruss and the other Council members, virtually ignoring Leia.

Praget spoke for not quite an hour, then yielded back to Senator Beruss without asking Leia a single question.

She could not tell whether he had decided he was unlikely to succeed in getting her to betray herself, or thought his case so strong that that was unnecessary.

In contrast, Senator Rattagagech had a long series of very specific questions, but they were far less accusatory in tone than Praget’s exposition, or even his glances.

The Elomin was trying to reconstruct the calculus of Leia’s decisions in painstaking detail, and even Praget grew impatient with him.

“You either know what you stand for, or you don’t,” Praget said.

“Relevance, Chairman, relevance—please instruct the Senator to be relevant or yield. The petition is offered on actions and results, not motives or intentions.”

Rattagagech drew back in surprise. “Senator Praget, your fourth charge, of incompetence, demands a thorough assessment of the President’s judgment—” “Chairman, permission to amend the petition?”

Beruss nodded. “As you wish.”

“I strike and withdraw the fourth article in its entirety,” Praget said, then looked at Rattagagech. “Are you finished now?”

The Elomin showed a peevish expression. “In light of the amendment, Chairman, I have no further questions for Princess Leia.”

“Very well,” said Beruss. “Senator Fey’lya.” sault, the killing blow, to come from Borsk Fey’lya.