In theory, Inner Council meetings were supposed to be a quieter, more casual sort of encounter than the more formal Provisional Council things. In actual practice, Han had long ago found out, an Inner Council grilling could be just as rough as being raked over the fires by the larger group.
“Let me get this straight, then, Captain Solo,” Borsk Fey’lya said with his usual oily politeness. “You, alone, and without consultation with anyone in official authority, made the decision to cancel the Bimmisaari mission.”
“I’ve already said that,” Han told him. He felt like suggesting to the Bothan that he pay better attention. “I’ve also stated my reasons for doing so.”
“Which, in my opinion, were good and proper ones,” Admiral Ackbar’s gravelly voice interjected in Han’s support. “Captain Solo’s duty at that point was abundantly clear: to protect the ambassador in his charge and to return safely to alert us.”
“Alert us to what?” Fey’lya countered. “Forgive me, Admiral, but I don’t understand what exactly this threat is we’re supposedly facing. Whoever these gray-skinned beings were, they clearly weren’t considered important enough by the Old Senate to even be included in the records. I doubt a race that insignificant is likely to be capable of mounting a major offensive against us.”
“We don’t know that that’s the reason they aren’t in the records,” Leia put in. “It could simply be an oversight or gap damage.”
“Or else a deliberate erasure,” Luke said.
Fey’lya’s fur rippled, indicating polite disbelief. “And why would the Imperial Senate want to erase the records of an entire race’s existence?”
“I didn’t say it was necessarily the Senate’s idea,” Luke said. “Maybe the aliens themselves destroyed their records.”
Fey’lya sniffed. “Farfetched. Even if it was possible, why would anyone want to do it?”
“Perhaps Councilor Organa Solo can answer that,” Mon Mothma interjected calmly, looking at Leia. “You were more involved in the informational side of the Imperial Senate than I was, Leia. Would such a manipulation have been possible?”
“I really don’t know,” Leia said, shaking her head. “I never got all that deeply into the actual mechanics of how the Senate’s records were handled. Common wisdom, though, would suggest that it’s impossible to create a security system that can’t be broken by someone determined enough to do it.”
“That still doesn’t answer the question of why these aliens of yours would be that determined,” Fey’lya sniffed.
“Maybe they saw the Old Republic’s coming demise,” Leia told him, her voice starting to sound a little irritated. “They might have erased all references to themselves and their world in hopes the rising Empire might not notice them.”
Fey’lya was fast, all right; Han had to give him that. “In that case,” the Bothan smoothly switched gears, “perhaps a fear of rediscovery was all that motivated this attack, as well.” He looked at Ackbar. “Regardless, I see no reason to make a full-fledged military operation out of this. To reduce our glorious forces to the level of a mere diplomatic entourage is an insult to their courage and their fighting spirit.”
“You can dispense with the speeches, Councilor,” Ackbar rumbled. “None of our ‘glorious forces’ are here to be impressed by them.”
“I say only what I feel, Admiral,” Fey’lya said, with that air of wounded pride he did so well.
Ackbar’s eyes swiveled toward Fey’lya- “I wonder,” Leia spoke up quickly, “if we could get back to the original subject here. I presume it hasn’t escaped anyone’s notice that, whatever their motivation, the aliens were ready and waiting for us when we reached Bimmisaari.”
“We’re going to need tighter security for these missions, obviously,” Ackbar said. “At both ends-your attackers did suborn a local Bimm politician, after all.”
“All of which will cost that much more time and effort,” Fey’lya murmured, a section of his fur rippling.
“It can’t be helped,” Mon Mothma said firmly. “If we don’t protect our negotiators, the New Republic will stagnate and wither. Accordingly-” she looked at Ackbar “-you will detail a force to accompany Councilor Organa Solo on her trip back to Bimmisaari tomorrow.”
Tomorrow? Han threw a sharp look at Leia, got an equally surprised look in return. “Excuse me,” he said, raising a finger. “Tomorrow?”