[Hand Of Thrawn] - 01(46)

The voices faded away into a tense silence. Gavrisom touched the key again. “I’m sure the Senator from Chorlian sector was speaking only figuratively,” he said with his usual unflappable poise. “At any rate, this debate has already passed the point of usefulness and will therefore be suspended for now. If the document which Councilor Organa Solo brought back can be reconstructed to the point where names can be discovered, we will reopen the discussion. Until then, there are many other matters which require our attention.”

He glanced at his display, then looked up to his right. “We will begin with the report of the Economics Committee. Senator Quedlifu?”

***

The Economics Committee report was longer than usual, with two bills being submitted to the full Senate for consideration. That in itself was fairly unusual: with each Senator limited to introducing one bill per year, and a straight up-down vote required to get that bill out of committee, most of the proposed legislation never found the support necessary to make it to the full Senate. Only a small fraction of those few, moreover, ever survived the Senate’s scrutiny to actually become law.

Which was precisely how the system was supposed to work. With nearly a thousand Senators already-and with each one representing fifty to two hundred entire worlds-there was no possible way Coruscant could truly look after the interests of all the beings making up the New Republic. This latest modification of the Senate had reduced its role to little more than providing for the common defense and mediating disputes between member sectors. The more commonplace day-to-day governing was handled at the sector, system, planetary, regional, district, and local levels.

A few of the Senators, remembering the glory days of the Old Republic, occasionally grumbled about the Senate being reduced to what they saw as little more than an elaborate debating society. For the majority, though, the more vivid memory was that of Coruscant’s domination during the dark days of the. Empire. A relatively weak central government was exactly what they wanted.

As it turned out, the Economics Committee was the only one with any bills to introduce or, for that matter, anything really new to report. Gavrisom cycled through the rest of the committees with practiced ease and dispatch, bringing the meeting to a close less than two hours after it had begun.

And yet, even as Leia joined the flow of beings exiting from the chamber, she suspected that none of the Senators or High Councilors would be occupied with business as usual this afternoon. Caamas would be the thought on everyone’s mind. Caamas, and justice.

Or perhaps vengeance.

“Your Highness?” a tentative voice called through the rumble of conversation.

Leia paused and lifted a hand. “Over here, Threepio.”

“Ah,” the droid said, making his tentative way across the traffic flow toward her. “I trust the assembly went well?”

“As well as can be expected, under the circumstances,” Leia told him. “Any messages from the techs about the datacard?”

“I’m afraid not,” Threepio said, sounding regretful. “But I do have a message from Captain Solo. He has returned, and will be waiting for you.”

Leia felt her heartbeat pick up. “Did he say anything about his mission to Iphigin?”

“I’m afraid not,” Threepio apologized again. “Should I have asked him?”

“No, that’s all right,” Leia assured him.

“He did not seem inclined to be overly conversational,” the droid mused. “He may not have answered even if I had asked.”

Leia smiled. “Probably not,” she agreed, a hundred fond memories of her husband flashing through her mind. She’d been planning to head straight to her office to sift through some of the mountain of datawork waiting on her desk. Now, suddenly, she decided it could wait. Han would be waiting for her in their quarters&mdash

“Councilor Organa Solo?” a voice said from her side.

Leia turned, a sinking feeling settling into her. The voice and mental profile&mdash

And she was right. It was indeed Ghic Dx’ono, the Ishori Senator. “Yes, Senator Dx’ono?”

“I would speak with you, High Councilor,” the other said firmly. “In your office. Now.”

“Certainly,” Leia said, her feeling sinking a little further. The alien’s emotions indicated disquietude, but that was all she could read from it. “Come with me.”

Together they made their way across the flow of beings, Threepio struggling to keep up, and into the curved side corridor where the members of the High Council had their offices. Leia caught a glimpse of Fey’lya as he disappeared into his office; then they rounded the curve&mdash