[Dark Nest] - 3(50)
“In the meantime, our bacta supply is cut off,” Omas said. “And if we launch a counteroffensive, the damage could be even worse.”
“The fighting will be widespread, and the xoorzi crop will suffer,” Zalk’t said.
“Xoorzi crop?” Han asked. “I thought bacta was made out of a couple of kinds of bacteria.”
“It is,” Zalk’t replied. “Xoorzi fungus is the growth medium for the alazhi bacteria. It occurs only in the wild, in the deepest shade of the forest floor. The slightest disturbance will cause it to release its spores and shrivel.”
“As you can see, a conventional battle would be devastating,” Pellaeon said. “We were hoping the Jedi would be able to handle the situation a bit more delicately.” He turned to Omas, his expression carrying an unspoken demand. “Weren’t we?”
Omas swallowed hard, then said, “Yes. The Galactic Alliance would be very grateful for the Jedi’s help.” Luke kept a sober expression, but inwardly he was smiling. The Jedi’s quick response to the coup attempts had regained some measure of respect from Chief Omas, and now he was asking for the Jedi’s help-albeit reluctantly.
“Of course.” Luke felt a bolt of alarm shoot through the Force as Han, Jacen, and even Leia grew worried that he was allowing political concerns to undermine his judgment. “The Jedi would be delighted to help.”
“If you and Admiral Pellaeon think that’s best,” Mara added, obviously sensing the same objections from their companions.
Omas frowned at her. “We do.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do.” Luke noticed Pellaeon’s brown eyes studying Mara with their usual shrewdness. He nudged the admiral through the Force, feeding Pellaeon’s doubt and urging him to question the situation. Outwardly, he simply bowed to Chief Omas. “If you’ll excuse me, then, I’ll start recalling our Jedi Knights-“
“Not yet,” Pellaeon said. His gaze flickered briefly between Luke and Mara, and Luke knew the admiral had figured out that he was being played. That did not prevent him from asking the right question. “You don’t think sending the Jedi to Thyferra is a good idea, do you, Master Skywalker?”
Luke kept his gaze fixed on Omas. “The Jedi are willing to go wherever Chief Omas feels we are needed.”
“Blast it, Luke!” Pellaeon barked. “That’s not what I asked. If you know something we don’t-“
“It’s not anything we know,” Leia interrupted. “It’s just experience.”
“What experience?” Omas looked suspicious, but he was clearly unwilling to deny his Supreme Commander the leeway to pursue his own line of inquiry. “With the Killiks?”
“Precisely,” Leia said. “I’m sure it hasn’t appeared this way from your position as the Chief of State, but the Jedi are convinced that much of the Colony’s aggression since Qoribu has actually been directed at the Jedi order.”
“That wouldn’t surprise me in the least,” Omas said icily. “As I’m sure you recall, I didn’t want the Jedi involved with the Colony in the first place.”
“I don’t see how that has any bearing on the current situation,” Pellaeon said sharply. “And you feel these coups are directed at the Jedi how?”
“Not at us,” Luke said. “They’re diversions, to keep us on the defensive instead of destroying the Colony’s strength at a crucial time.”
“The Killiks are launching something major,” Leia said. When Omas’s brow rose, she raised a hand to forestall his question. “I can feel it through Jaina-there’s a big battle going on, one she seems confident of winning.”
This was news to Luke, who had not been able to get a clear Force reading on his niece since she became a Joiner, but Pellaeon nodded in agreement.
“Bwua’tu feels they’re preparing another breakout attempt in the Utegetu,” the admiral said. “And they certainly wouldn’t want the Jedi interfering in that-not after the role you played in spoiling their first attempt.”
Omas looked at Pellaeon with a dropped jaw. “You believe them?”
“I do. The Colony can’t fight the Alliance and the Chiss at the same time. I never believed the coups were meant to be anything more than a diversion-and I’m certainly willing to consider the possibility that it wasn’t the military they were trying to distract.” Pellaeon turned to Luke. “Can the Jedi really destroy the Colony’s strength?”
Luke nodded, using the Force to project more confidence than he felt. “We can.”