[Thrawn Trilogy] - 02(90)

Han grunted. “What a great group to have as allies. So do they just stab, or do they also help with the tripping?”

“You mean the bank transfer?” Sena shook her head. “No, I doubt that was Fey’lya’s doing. As a rule Bothus don’t stick their necks out far enough to concoct plots on their own. They much prefer to take advantage of other people’s.”

“More like scavengers than hunters,” Han said sourly. Probably explained why he’d always disliked Fey’lya and his crowd. “So what do we do about him?”

Sena shrugged. “All you really need to do is get Ackbar cleared. As soon as he’s not vulnerable to attack anymore, Fey’lya should back off.”

“Great,” Han growled. “Problem is, with a Grand Admiral in charge of the Empire, we might not have that much time.

“And if we don’t, neither do you,” Lando added. “Wounded dignity aside, Sena, the Senator had better start facing reality. You’re a small, isolated group with a line on the Katana fleet, and there’s an Empire out there hungry for new warships. The minute the Grand Admiral tumbles to what you’ve got, he’ll have the whole Imperial Fleet on you before you can blink twice. Bring the Katana fleet over to the New Republic and you get to be heroes. Wait too long, and you’ll lose everything.”

“I know that,” Sena said, her voice almost too low to hear. Han waited, mentally crossing his fingers:”We don’t actually know where the fleet is,” she said. “Our Dreadnaughts came from a man who says he stumbled on them about fifteen years ago. He’s thin, below-average height, with a sort of weasely look about him. He has short white hair and a heavily lined face, though I suspect much of that appearance is due more to some past disease or injury than actual age.”

“What’s his name?” Han asked.

“I don’t know. He’s never told us that.” She hesitated again, then plunged ahead. “He loves to gamble, though. All our meetings with him have been aboard the Coral Vanda, usually across gaming tables. The staff there seemed to know him quite well, though the way he was throwing money around, that may not mean anything. Croupiers always get to know the losers quickly.”

“The Coral Vanda?” Han asked.

“It’s a subocean luxury casino on Pantolomin,” Lando told him. “Does three-and seven-day runs through the big network of reefs lying off the northern continent. I’ve always wanted to go there, but never had the chance.”

“Well, you’ve got it now,” Han said. He looked at Sena. “I suppose the next question is how we’re going to get out of here.”

“That won’t be a problem,” she said, her voice sounding strained. Already having second thoughts, probably. “I can get the Harrier to take you back to New Cov. When do you want to leave?”

“Right now,” Han said. He saw Sena’s expression- “Look, no matter when we go, you’re going to have some explaining to do to the Senator. We’re in a race with the Empire here even a few hours might make a difference.”

“I suppose you’re right,” she said with a reluctant nod. “Irenez, take us to their ship. I’ll make the arrangements from there.”

It turned out there was no need to make arrangements from the Lady Luck. Standing outside the ship’s ramp as they arrived, clearly waiting for them, was Senator Bel Iblis.

“Hello, Solo; Calrissian,” he smiled as Han and Lando stepped out of the speeder. “You weren’t at your quarters, and I thought you might be here. I see I guessed right.”

His eyes flicked over Han’s shoulder as Sena emerged from the speeder. Looked again into Han’s face : and abruptly the easy smile vanished. “Sena? What’s going on?”

“They know about the Katana fleet, Commander,” she said quietly, coming up beside Han. “And : I told them about our contact.

“I see,” Bel Iblis said evenly. “And so you’re leaving. To see if you can persuade him to turn the Dark Force over to the New Republic.”

“That’s right, sir,” Han said, matching his tone. “We need the ships-need them pretty badly. But not as much as we need good fighters. And good commanders.”

For a long moment Bel Iblis gazed at him. “I won’t go to Mon Mothma like a beggar pleading to be let in,” he said at last.

“You left for good reasons,” Han persisted. “You can come back the same way.

Again, Bel Iblis’s eyes flicked to Sena. “No,” he said. “Too many people know what happened between us. I would look like an old fool. Or like a beggar.”