“Run a voice profile if you don’t believe me,” Zavirk said. “That’s the Corellian PM.”
There were ten people in the room, and they’d all stopped to listen. Gejjen’s soothingly persuasive voice with its faint accent was telling someone that there was no point doing this through the usual channels, because nobody else was in a negotiating mood.
“… you and I know that this could be solved by the removal of a few hotheads… some of our military need slapping down, and so do some of yours. I’d call an immediate cease-fire if I could be assured of a few things.”
“Such as?” said the unmistakable voice of Chief of State Omas. They were tapping the Chief of State’s secure comm line. Ben wasn’t sure they had authorization to do that.
“”We’ll agree that Corellia pools its military assets with the GA as long as we have an opt-out clause that says we have the right to withdraw it if our own needs are more urgent. Niathal has to go. Jacen Solo has to go. Once that’s out of the way, we’re back to normal and you’ve got what you want. “
“Centerpoint. “
“Well, we’re having problems repairing it anyway.”
“Centerpoint has to be made inoperative.”
A pause: too brief even for most people to notice, but Ben did. “It already is. But if you want a multiplanetary force or observers there, fine.”
“What about the Bothans, and the other planets fighting their own wars’?”
“I can bring the Commenorians into line, and the Bothans … well, once we’re all back in the GA then Bothawui’s got to toe the line. The little peopleif the fighting gets out of hand, we’ll commit troops to put a stop to that. “
“The Senate won’t agree to this.”
“Take Niathal and Solo out of the equation first and they’ll calm down. What’s left of the Senate, anyway…”
“Take out… they won’t go quietly … they might split the Senate. G’Sil’s totally in their camp, and he’s got weight. “
“Well, there’s take out, and take out. “
Omas swallowed but didn’t respond.
Gejjen filled the silence. “You know we have a job to do before this draws in the whole galaxy.”
“Okay. Okay.”
“We need to meet. Can you get to Vulpter?”
Long pause. “I’ll find an excuse. Send me the details…”
Girdun stood looking at the screen as if he could get some sense out of it if he stared long enough. Zavirk sat with his chin propped on his hand, gazing up at the captain for orders.
“Get a transcription of that to Colonel Solo right away.”
Ben still wasn’t clear what was happening, even though he thought Omas should have mentioned the approach to the Security Council. “Can’t the Chief of State talk to the Corellian Prime Minister?”
“Depends what he’s talking about,” said Girdun. “And what he has in mind for Colonel Solo and Admiral Niathal.”
If Gejjen could plot the assassination of the Queen Mother of Hapes and have Thrackan Sal-Solo killed, then making Jacen and Niathal disappear was just another routine job for him. Ben knew he had his answer about the necessity of his mission.
Girdun leaned over Zavirk and tapped the console. “That conversation was four hours ago. Better check on the Chief of State’s travel
arrangements, because he hasn’t informed us he’s going offworld and needs a close protection squad.”
“You think he needs one?” asked Ben.
“With Gejjen? He needs two*
Ben didn’t know if he could mention Tenel Ka. It was always hard knowing who knew what inside the GAG. “Would he really try something with Chief Omas?”
“I think he does it out of habit, just like I chew nervesticks.”
Ben now had no idea if Cal Omas was bypassing the Senate illicitly to do a personal deal with the enemy, or walking into a trap like the one Gejjen had set for Tenel Kaand Uncle Han’s late, unlamented cousin Thrackan.
Jacen was right, as ever. Gejjen had to be stopped.
SUPREME COMMANDER’S OFFICE, SENATE BUILDING, CORUSCANT
Jacen read the transcript a third time and laid his datapad down on Niathal’s desk.
She had a hologram of Mon Cal on the wall behind her, all shimmering blue ocean and sinuous buildings emerging from the waves in floating cities. He wondered if she was homesick. Right now she was fresh back from a battle that hadn’t gone as planned, and impatient to see Cal Omas about it.
That meant she was receptive to ideas. He made a conscious effort not to influence her, because she wasn’t the kind to fall for Jedi tricks. And it would only provoke her.