Bwua’tu’s ears came forward; then he seemed to recognize the humor in Jaina’s tone and snorted in approval. “No, he didn’t,” Bwua’tu said. “As a matter of fact, I’m surprised the old battlecan let me keep my command.”
“The Killiks certainly wished he hadn’t,” Jaina said. Bwua’tu studied her with narrowed eyes, no doubt wondering whether there remained enough Joiner in Jaina to wish that the Killiks had prevailed in their war against the Chiss.
“What I’m trying to say is that your performance after the Ackbar’s capture was brilliant,” Jaina clarified. “Nobody else could have stopped those nest ships in the Murgo Choke.”
Bwua’tu’s expression grew pleased. “Probably not. No one else would have moved so quickly to exploit the enemy’s uncertainty, especially in the face of such overwhelming …” The admiral stopped and glanced up at Ackbar’s bust, then flattened his ears in embarrassment. “Well, I was taking a substantial risk. But that can’t be the reason you need to see me, What’s this about a transport leaving the system?”
Jaina swallowed, then stepped close enough to speak in a hushed voice. “It was bound for the Hapes Consortium, sir.”
“The Consortium.” The fur on Bwua’tu’s brow pulled forward. “You’re sure?”
She nodded. “Very sure. The accuracy of the intercepts is beyond doubt.”
“Well, how … alarming” Bwua’tu avoided asking any specifics about the intercept method. StealthX eavesdropping technology was highly classified, and there were too many ears without the proper clearance to discuss the matter in the TacSal. “The Hapes Consortium is a big gob of space. Were you able to determine which planet?”
Jaina shook her head. “I’m afraid not. The Transitory Mists make Hapan hyperspace lanes too tangled to tell, but Hapes is definitely the direction that the vessel was headed.”
“I see.” Bwua’tu fell silent for a moment, his gaze growing distant and thoughtful. “So, the Corellians are hoping to draw the Hapans into the war on their side.”
“That’s very hard to believe, Admiral,” Jaina said. It was the obvious conclusion, but given who was involved, it just didn’t make sense. “We might want to consider alternative explanations.”
“I already have, Jedi Solo.” Bwua’tu studied Jaina carefully, his eyes slowly growing beady and suspicious. “This one is a near certainty. Naval Intelligence reports that both Nal Hutta and Bothawui have refused to ally-at least openly-against the Galactic Alliance, and Corellia knows she can’t defeat us alone.”
“They may be desperate, Admiral, but they’re not fools.” Jaina had grown up in a household where Heads of State and Supreme Commanders were everyday guests, but there was something penetrating in Bwua’tu’s gaze that made her feel exposed and uneasy. “The Galactic Alliance has Tenel Ka’s full support, and the CorelHans know it. She’s sent us two full battle fleets.”
Bwua’tu’s look of suspicion changed to one of disappointment. “I didn’t say they were going to meet the Queen Mother, Jedi Solo.”
Jaina frowned, digesting his remark for a moment, then asked, “You think Corellia intends to overthrow Tenel Ka?”
“I think Corellia intends to help,” Bwua’tu corrected. “The Queen Mother’s support of the Alliance is unpopular among her nobles, so I’m sure they have their pick of potential usurpers.”
“No.” Jaina’s stomach knotted with outrage-with the refusal to believe her parents could betray such a good friend, “That just doesn’t make sense.”
Bwua’tu studied her with a cocked head for a moment, then asked, “Exactly what doesn’t make sense, Jedi So!o? There’s something you’re not telling me.”
“What makes you say that, sir?” Jaina knew as soon as she had spoken that it was the wrong question to ask. Bothans were renowned throughout the galaxy as masters of treachery-and that meant seeing through lies as well as telling them. “I mean, I have good reason to believe that’s not what the Corellians are intending.” Bwua’tu looked at her expectantly. “I’m only sorry that I’m not at liberty to reveal it,” she said. “It’s, um, a secret of the order.”
“I see.” Bwua’tu tugged at his graying fur, then turned away and motioned for Jaina to follow. “Come with me, young woman.”
Jaina gulped and did as she was ordered. Bwua’tu led her into his private office at the rear of the Tactical Salon. Like everything else aboard his Star Destroyer, the cabin was austere and tidy, with another bust 鷸 Admiral Ackbar sitting on one corner of his desk. There were half a dozen sturdy plastoid chairs in front of lhe desk and a pair of gray couches in one corner, but Bwua’tu did not invite Jaina to sit on any of the furniture. Instead, he opaqued the transparisteel wall that separated the cabin from the salon, then turned to face her.