“Han, I don’t,” Antilles replied. “Jacen has lost his way, but it’s only because he believes in what he’s fighting for. Sooner or later, he’s going to remember that you and Leia taught him right from wrong, and he’s going to find his way back.”
Leia reached out and squeezed Antilles’s hand. “Thank you, Wedge,” she said. “I know that’s true, but it feels good to hear someone else say it.”
“Yeah, it makes you think maybe you’re not crazy after all.” Han turned away so he could blink a tear out of his eye, then looked back to Antilles. “So what do you really want me for?”
“I told you,” Antilles said. “To negotiate a coalition.”
As he spoke, the admiral’s eyes shifted toward Leia, and Han realized the truth was he wanted Leia to negotiate the coalition.
Han shook his head. “For once, Threepio is right-you don’t want to ask me to negotiate any kind of coalition. I might start a war or something.”
Antilles gave a theatrical sigh. “Come on, Han.” He briefly shifted his gaze to Leia again. “You understand what I’m asking.”
“Then ask,” Han said. “You know how I hate games.”
“Very well.” Antilles turned to Leia, and his eyes began to blink more rapidly-another old sabacc tell that usually meant your opponent was trying to pull a fast one. “You understand this can’t be an official request…”
“Why not?” Han interrupted.
“Because I’m not Corellian,” Leia said. “And I’m a Jedi Knight. It would look suspicious for me to conduct negotiations.”
“So you want me to be the front man?” Han continued to look at Antilles.
Antilles nodded. “Exactly.”
“Not interested,” Han said, not even pretending to consider the request. He could not ask Leia to negotiate on behalf of a cause that even he knew she supported only partially, especially when Antilles himself so clearly had reservations about what he was asking. Besides, Han had a sneaking suspicion that his old friend was deliberately trying to discourage the Solos from accepting the assignment. “Call me when you need someone to do some fighting…”
He turned to leave, but Leia caught him by the arm. “Han, shouldn’t we hear Admiral Antilles out?”
“What for?”
“For Corellia.” Leia fixed him with a stern-eyed gaze that worked better on him than any Jedi Force suggestion. “You’re always talking about the importance of preserving Corellia’s independent spirit. Is sitting at a negotiating table really so much to ask?”
Han’s jaw dropped. Leia had renounced her role as a senior diplomat during the war with the Yuuzhan Vong, when it had grown apparent that the political process was only undermining the New Republic’s ability to win the war. That she would volunteer to resume the role now-on Corellia’s behalf-seemed very suspicious.
He scowled. “You want to do this?”
“I’m willing to consider it.” Leia turned back to Antilles. “But we’re not making a decision before we hear the details-all the details.”
“No one expects that.” Antilles smiled, but the note of disappointment in his voice was unmistakable-at least to someone who had known him for forty years. “My orders were simply to find out if you’d be willing to consider it. Prime Minister Gejjen will brief you on the rest.”
Han’s brow rose. Dur Gejjen had risen to power by helping Han and Boba Fett assassinate Han’s megalomaniac cousin, Thrackan Sal-Solo. Afterward, Gejjen had abolished the office of President of Five Worlds, which Sal-Solo had created for the sole purpose of exerting his personal dominion over the entire Corellian system. Had Gejjen stopped there, Han would have admired his integrity and wisdom. But Gejjen had proved to be just as bad as Sal-Solo, establishing his own hold by arranging to have himself named both Chief of State of the planet Corellia and Five Worlds Prime Minister.
“Gejjen is here?” Han asked. “You have got to be kidding.”
“I’m afraid not.”
Antilles led the way into the planning salon, a spacious cabin lined with the latest battle-coordination technology: half-wall display screens, a ceiling-mounted tactical holoprojector, automatic caf dispensers in each corner. Dur Gejjen and two others sat talking at a large oval conference table with a combination data/comm station at every seat.
As soon as Han and Leia entered the room, Gejjen ended the conversation and extended his hand. “Captain Solo, welcome.” He was young and good looking, with dark skin and black hair worn in a short military-style cut. “I’m so pleased you agreed to accept this assignment.”