She nodded.
“Well, she didn’t, not exactly.” Even in the poor light, Teppler seemed to lose his focus, his intensity, and Leia felt the man ‘as staring back through time. “After she died, I received an in-case-of-my-death package from her. Her dealings with you were part of that package. Also part of it was an apology for getting me killed.”
Han frowned. “She hasn’t, has she?”
“Not yet. And I’m likely to remain alive as long as certain parties see me as an asset rather than a liability.” Teppler shrugged. “I’d like to remain alive. I’d prefer that even to coordinating Corellian government. But most of all I want to keep Corellia from being ruined. Devastated by war, her economy depicted by a lengthy struggle against the Galactic Alliance, or-perhaps worst of all-her economy and critical faculties drained away by years of rule under the wrong regime.”
The Solos nodded. Teppler was obviously speaking of Chief Sal-Solo and his political allies.
“And that’s why I’ve asked you here,” Teppler continued. “To defend my people, my world, I’m going to commit an act of high treason. I’ve smuggled you in here, into the most secure portions of our war department facilities, so you can be a witness to a meeting I’m forbidden to attend.”
“Forbidden?” Leia arched a brow. “How can they forbid you?”
“By having more pressing matters scheduled for me during this meeting.” Teppler looked increasingly glum. “With my brother dead, and never having gone through the process of building myself a reliable, loyal society of conspirator-allies, I haven’t had anyone I can trust with me since Aidel’s death. Which my political opponents know all too well. I’m the perfect front man-hapless and helpless. And then Aidel’s message about you two comes to me, and I discover that perhaps the most incorruptible Corellian of all is visiting us on the sly, and willing to risk his home, his relationship with his own government, in the interest of keeping people alive and keeping his homeworld intact …”
Han felt shock creep across his face. “Incorruptible? When did I become incorruptible?”
Leia grinned at him. “It’s your stubborn pride, dear. It keeps you from accepting the wrong kind of bribe.”
“Hello? Smuggler?”
“Ex-smuggler.” Leia returned her attention to Teppler and sobered. “You actually want us to spy on this meeting.”
“Yes. A top-secret military meeting. It’s supposed to deal with throwing the GA forces off Tralus.”
Leia frowned at him. “And why do you think I’d refrain from telling the GA military about the plans we listen to?”
The Prime Minister gave her a sad stare. “Because you know as well as I do that there can’t be a peace initiative until the GA is off Tralus. The GA can’t negotiate their departure because that’s already been tried and failed. The GA can’t just leave because it would be too great a loss of face-even greater than being driven off, because it suggests they were wrong in the first place. And the Corellians won’t even start thinking about peaceful solutions while there’s an occupying force on Tralus.”
His expression graduated from sad to positively miserable. “There can’t be peace until an act of war drives the GA out of this system, and you know it. And if you were to tell the GA government our plans, we couldn’t succeed at driving them out. It’s as simple as that.”
Leia was silent for a long moment. Finally she said, “I’ve underestimated you, Prime Minister. You’re more calculating than I thought.”
“Aren’t I, though?” He offered her a self-deprecating smile. “At this rate, I wonder whether, when assassins or war-trial executioners come for me, I’ll welcome what they have to offer.” He shrugged. “As for now, the only forces I know are loyal to me are four YVH droids my brother programmed for my security. I’m hoping that, after you’ve witnessed this meeting, you can tell me if there are any others. Or at least confirm the disloyalty of others I suspect. It would be helpful.”
“We’ll consider it,” Han said. “I think we’ll watch your little meeting and then decide what to do.”
“That’s about as much as I could ask for.” Teppler rose, and the Solos did, as well. “My droids will be back for you when it’s safe to smuggle you out of here. In the meantime, the polarizing tint on the viewport here, and the darkness of this chamber, will prevent anyone below from seeing you.”
“Meaning we shouldn’t turn on the lights,” Han said, deadpan.