[Legacy Of The Force] - 04(88)

“Next to impossible,” Tycho said, “isn’t impossible.”

“Give me the passcode,” Jacen snapped.

Reciting from memory, Tycho said, “Three seven nine aitch oh ell forty-four underscore bee nine two one.”

Jacen whipped out his datapad and accessed a file. He rolled through it for a few moments. Then his expression went from merely angry to angry and confused. “Unassigned,” he said. “Toward the bottom of the unassigned list.”

“I suggest,” Niathal said, “that you run checks on the other unassigned codes to be sure they haven’t been used, as well.”

Jacen snapped the datapad shut. “I’ll do that.”

“And report your findings.”

“Yes, Admiral.” Clearly furious, Jacen turned away and avoided eye contact.

“Is there anything else?” Niathal asked.

“Yes.” The speaker was a darkskinned, dark-haired woman dressed in somber civilian dress rather than in uniform. She was Belindi Kalenda, the Galactic Alliance’s director of intelligence since the end of the Yuuzhan Vong war. “I have one item pertaining to the military. Information has reached me suggesting that the Confederation is experiencing growing pains-an increased difficulty, as more planets join, with coordinating their respective military forces.”

Niathal cocked her head at the director. “The only surprising part about that is that they haven’t selected a Supreme Commander already.”

“Not the only surprising part. Admiral, what I’m hearing is that the Bothans have demanded that the Supreme Commander be elected at a face-to-face meeting of representatives from each world in the Confederation.”

Tycho whistled, Jacen nodded, and other officers began whispering among themselves. Niathal said, “That sounds very much like the Bothans. Face-to-face, rather than communicating across the HoloNet, they can influence the outcome.”

“Even more than that,” Kalenda said, “it appears that the Confederation is using this as a recruiting ploy, telling worlds that are still on the fence, `Join now and you’ll have a chance to send delegates to the election meeting; your candidate might be our Supreme Commander.’ “

“Interesting.” Niathal mulled that over. “How accurate is this information?”

“It’s an absolute that the Hutts have received a join now communication referring to the election, and that the Bothans are in a mad scramble to select the candidate agreeable to the greatest number of relevant politicians.”

“We have to be there,” Jacen said.

Niathal nodded. “Colonel Solo is correct. The delegations will include some of the Confederation’s best military leaders and brightest minds. Not to mention politicians who are very knowledgeable about their worlds’ plans. If we can eliminate the attendees, we reduce the Confederation’s planning abilities by a noticeable degree. If we can capture them, we stand to obtain a tremendous amount of critical knowledge. Director Kalenda, please bring a maximum effort to bear on obtaining that information. Don’t hesitate to call on us for resources.”

“Understood, Admiral.”

CORUSCANT

JEDI TEMPLE TRAINING HALL

“I think you’re taking the whole `Sword of the Jedi’ thing too seriously,” Zekk said.

In response, Jaina darted in, raising her lightsaber in a horizontal hold. She began a high sweeping slash, visualizing her attack as she did so. But hers was a feint, and, contrary to her visualization, she dipped the tip of the blade wt-11 beneath Zekk’s blocking maneuver and tagged him along his right ribs.

The weapon made a zap noise. A practice saber, it gave Zekk an electrical jolt instead of a new burn scar to match the one he’d earned not so long ago. He stepped back, rubbing where the blade had touched him. “Hey. You cheated.”

Jaina nodded. “I relied on the fact that you anticipate me all the time. Because you rely too often on anticipating me.”

“Maybe so.”

“And I’m not taking the Sword of the Jedi designation too seriously. How can I, when I don’t even know what it means? Not even Uncle Luke really knows what it means.

He’s never been entirely sure why he said it. Maybe it was the Force speaking through him.”

Zekk readied his practice saber again. “Maybe it means you’re the new Chosen One.”

Jaina shuddered, then went on guard again. “I hope not. It took my grandfather decades, multiple amputations, and a lot of tragedy to achieve his destiny.” She advanced and threw a probing downward slash that turned into a skittering thrust across the top of Zekk’s blocking blade.