[Han Solo] - 03(79)

After all, there aren’t more than thirty priests on the whole planet, or so our intelligence indicates. Only about three per Colony, in most cases.

Another thing … we don’t want our troops having to deal with fighting off the t’landa Til’s empathic vibes—we want them to be able to concentrate on fighting.”

“I understand,” Jabba said. “Three … in return for our funding and our promise to eliminate the priests, your groups will land and destroy the Besadii enterprise. Blow up the factories, make sure there is nothing left for Besadii to use in rebuilding.”

“That’s right, Your Excellency,” the Rebel commander said. “The risk is ours. Of course, we’ll also take the Pilgrims and the warehoused spice.”

“I understand,” Jabba said. “Your offer merits consideration, Commander.

We—” “No!” Jiliac snorted disgustedly and waved dismissal. “Girl, we have heard enough. Thank you, but—” “Aunt!” Jabba said loudly, then lowered his voice when Jiliac broke off and turned to regard him in surprise. He continued in Huttese, “May I speak with you privately?”

Jiliac huffed slightly, then nodded. “Very well, Nephew.”

When the Tharen woman had been escorted outside the chamber by K8LR and asked to wait for their decision, Jabba said, “Aunt, this is an offer too good to refuse. If we had to hire mercenary forces to eliminate the Ylesian enterprise, it would cost us many times what we’d have to pay to fund these Rebels. It would cost …” he ran quick figures in his head, “at least five times as much. We should accept.”

Jiliac regarded her nephew with scorn. “Jabba, haven’t I taught you better than this? I told you, Desilijic must never support either faction in a war. You want us to join the Resistance? That policy can only lead to disaster!”

Jabba had to take a deep breath and silently recite the Hutt alphabet before he could respond. “Aunt, I am by no means suggesting that we should ally ourselves with these Rebels. But we can and should make use of them to further our own ends! This human female and her Rebellion are a gift from fate. Bria Tharen is the perfect leader for this raid.”

“Why?” Jiliac blinked at her nephew.

Jabba let out his breath in a quick huff of exasperation. “Think, Aunt!

Who were the two humans who escaped from Ylesia after killing Zawal all those years ago? Remember I investigated the matter after Han Solo came to work for us?”

Jiliac frowned. “No ” “Well, I did. Han Solo escaped Ylesia in a stolen ship, with much of Teroenza’s treasure in its hold, and the High Priest’s pet slave. Her name was Bria Tharen, Aunt. This same woman!

She has a personal grudge against Ylesia! She will stop at nothing to shut the Besadii slaving world down.”

Jiliac was still frowning. “So what if she has a personal score to settle?

How can that benefit us, Nephew?”

“Nothing could suit Desilijic’s needs better than the destruction of those accursed spice factories! Think of it! Besadii, humbled and impoverished!

This is a bargain!”

Jiliac rocked back and forth on her massive belly, staring goggle-eyed into space as if trying to picture in her mind’s eye how it would work.

“No,” she said finally. “It is a bad plan.”

“It is a good plan, Aunt,” Jabba insisted, “and, with a little refinement, can be made to work.” After a pause, he added, “With all due respect, Jiliac, I don’t believe that you have thought the matter through.”

“Oh?” Jiliac reared back until she towered over her relative.

“Nephew, your judgment is flawed. I have been very careful, over the years, not to compare you with your reckless parent, who nearly bankrupted Desilijic with his grand schemes, then was foolish enough to wind up on that mudball prison planet, Kip. However …”

Jabba didn’t like being reminded of Zorba and his profligate ways.

“Aunt, I am nothing like my parent, and you know it! I respectfully submit that you have grown soft and your analysis weak. We must deal with Besadii soon or, most assuredly, we will be ruined. What are your specific objections?”

Jiliac rumbled, and a bit of green phlegm appeared at the corner of her slack mouth. “Too risky, too many uncertainties. Humans are not intelligent enough to be able to accurately predict their behavior.

They’re just as apt to take our credits, then betray us to Besadii.”

“These Rebels are too committed to their cause,” Jabba said. “You are right, you don’t understand humans, Aunt. Commander Tharen’s group is just dedicated enough and stupid enough to risk themselves over those wretched slaves. Humans are like that. Especially this human.”