[Black Fleet Crisis] - 02(93)

“Belezaboth Ourn,” Nil Spaar said. “What is that sound?”

The toko bird’s squawking over being rejected was still audible from the outer room. “Viceroy! An honor and delight to have a chance to speak to you again. Disregard the noise—it is a wild animal outside, nothing more. What news do you have for me? Is there any further word on delivery of my ship?”

Ourn thought he saw regret in the Yevethan’s expressive eyes. “Consul, this has become a matter of great awkwardness,” Nil Spaar said. “My people and yours are nearly at war—” “No, not our people!” Ourn said, dismayed. “Why, there is not a single Paqwepori citizen in the New Republic’s armed forces— not one! The societor has forbidden it.”

“And I hope that will be an example to other rulers,” Nil Spaar said.

“But there is a great fleet poised to invade our territory, and they do not seem to have been left wanting by your absence.”

“Oh, that fleet is nothing but bluster,” Ourn said dismissively. “The Princess hasn’t the will to use it, or the support to do so.”

“I find her a strong and canny dictator,” Nil Spaar said. “I cannot believe that she would make empty threats.”

“If you could hear the speakers denouncing her daily in the Senate, you would know how weak she is.

There has been a challenge to her right to lead the New Republic. Why, there is even talk that she will be recalled.”

“I am more concerned whether the fleet that threatens us will be recalled,” said Nil Spaar. “You will understand that I can’t look past that.”

“But what about your promise? What about the favors I have done you?”

“We have a debt to the Paqwepori, it is true—but others in my government question whether we can trust an ally of Leia Organa Solo—” “I would have denounced her myself, if the chairman would only have let me—” “—and still others believe that we must keep Queen of the Valkyries for ourselves, to help us in our defense against the fleets and armies Leia is raising against us.

Truly, I do not see how we can deliver the ship to you in such circumstances.”

The consul’s face had fallen farther with every word. “This

is horrendous—unthinkable!” he sputtered.

“Is there nothing you can do?”

Nil Spaar flicked his cheek in the Paqwepori gesture of resignation.

“Perhaps it would be possible—but no. I am embarrassed to ask for more when a debt already exists.”

“Ask! Please, ask! Is there some way I can help resolve this?”

“I thought only that if you could give me the means to persuade the others—if I could give them sufficient reason to trust you—to know that you are as honorable as I know you to be—” “Yes, of course—but what will do that? Are you asking me to leave Coruscant? Are you asking us to leave the New Republic?”

“No, no–by no means. Just continue to be a friend to us there,” Nil Spaar said. “Keep your eyes and ears open to the machinations of she who afflicts us. Provide us with an unbiased report of her actions.

Give us the information we need to keep this confrontation from spinning out of control. That’s the only way we can keep our promise to you. That will be all the proof they need of your loyalty.”

“Of course,” Ourn said. “Of course! I would have done so anyway. In fact, my first reason for contacting you was to tell you about Leia’s newest abuse of her power. Even her friends are shocked by this—she came back from holiday and granted membership to more than twenty new systems, completely bypassing the established protocols—” “No,” Leia said emphatically, brushing past Nanaod Engh as though he were a street beggar. “I don’t want to call a cabinet meeting. I have nothing to tell them yet. The Defense Council hasn’t met yet. The viceroy hasn’t shown his hand yet.”

Engh appealed to Behn-kihl-nahm with his eyes.

“Will you talk to her, Chairman?”

“Leia—you don’t have to have answers for them yet,” Behn-kihl-nahm said. “Just let them see you. Just let them see you taking command.

A government is an organism—and this one has taken two

shocks substantial enough to disrupt its systems.”

“I’m sorry, but all that can’t depend on me. There’s a reason for having a cabinet, and the reason is so I don’t have to concern myself with all those ‘systems.” So let the ministers deal with their responsibilities, and I’ll deal with the things that only the chief of state can.”