[Legacy Of The Force] - 02(76)

Shevu eased off his helmet and stood wiping his forehead on the back of his glove. “You’re going to have to give us a list of your functions, sir,” he said with a faint smile. “Can’t quite keep up with your box of tricks.”

“Neither can I sometimes,” said Jacen. He turned to Ben. “You okay?”

“Fine,” said Ben. It was over for the time being. They could go back to barracks. He could feel the shaking in his legs that always followed an adrenaline rush, and the relief made him feel almost tearful. He bit his lip discreetly.

“You were going to tell me something a few days ago.” Jacen always seemed to know how Ben was feeling. He knew exactly when to ask a question and when Ben would find it hard not to answer. “Remember?”

“About what?”

“Something about reporting someone.”

Ah. Barit. Ben suffered indecision again. Barit hadn’t actually shot anyone, but he’d tried pretty hard. Was it right to turn him in? He might have already been interned or deported. But he might not. And whatever sympathy Ben might have felt for him, he might try again.

You’re in this now. You know what the stakes are. You’re not here to be liked.

And Jacen needs you. He needs you to be loyal.

“The family is called Saiy,” said Ben. “They run an engineering company.”





Chapter Twelve


MIRTA GEV TO AILYN HABUUR


AM RETURNING TO CORUSCANT

HAVE NOT RECEIVED YOUR REPLIES TO PREVIOUS MESSAGES

PLEASE CONFIRM RENDEZVOUS POINT

HAVE HEART-OF-FIRE

-Mirta Gev’s comlink text to suspect Ailyn Habuur, intercepted by Galactic Alliance Guard signals squad, passed to Colonel Solo for evaluation

JACEN SOLO’S APARTMENT, ROTUNDA ZONE.

The one thing you could count on with Corellians was that if you knocked them down, they got up again and again and again.

Jacen had been too preoccupied with the anti-terror operations to devote time to sensing what Thrackan Sal-Solo might be doing from a strategic point of view: Fleet Intelligence seemed to have that under control. But he knew that Centerpoint would remain an issue as long as it hadn’t been totally destroyed, and this morning his uncle didn’t disappoint him.

Jacen had joined the billions of Coruscanti whose morning now began by switching on the HNE news even before the first cup of caf to check how close to war they were getting.

HNE was running an interview from Corellian holonews with Sal-Solo, in which he announced work was about to start on restoring Centerpoint Station to operational status.

Jacen wasn’t sure if Sal-Solo had the capacity to do that or how long he might take to achieve it, but it was perfect timing. If this didn’t persuade the Alliance to authorize the blockade of Corellia, nothing would. Striking at Corellia’sindustrial orbiters would have achieved far more, far faster, but he knew a blockade could achieve the same ends in time.

Time means lives. Time means more chaos. We always think that time will resolve things, but it never has.

He forgot about caf and breakfast, left Ben to sleep off the previous night’s operation, and went straight to the Senate. Niathal, always an early riser, had beaten him to it. He found her in Omas’s offices and he knew the admiral and he had one thing in mind.

Omas was watching the holoscreen he now had running permanently in his private office.

“Diplomacy by holonews,” he said irritably.

Niathal nodded at Jacen to sit beside her, a little psychological display of unity in front of their reluctant Chief. “Did you think Sal-Solo would pick up the comlink and ask if it was okay to start work on Centerpoint again?”

Jacen glanced discreetly at her. Her expressions were becoming as easy to read as her emotions. She was satisfied.

“I don’t think we have any choice,” he said. “We can’t ignore this.”

“I hate that phrase.” Omas turned down the audio volume. “Because it’s usually true these days.”

“It’s going to take two fleets to isolate Coreilia,” said Niathal. “I’m asking you for authority to pull the Third and Fifth Fleets back from exercises on the Outer Rim.”

Omas wore an expression of weary resignation, but the edge in his voice said different. “I need authority from the Senate first.”

“Getting two fleets into position to begin a blockade takes time. You start on the Senate procedures, and we’ll get the logistics in hand. Then we’ll be ready to deploy as soon as the authority is given.”

“We?” Omas asked pointedly, looking at Jacen.

“The Defense Force,” Niathal said stiffly.

Well, you catch on eventually, Chief, thought Jacen. Yes, we’ve taken sides, and she’s not on yours.