a way that left little room for argument.
But bel-dar-Nolek was unmoved. “Then I’m afraid you leave the Obroan Institute no choice but to forge a separate peace with the Yuuzhan Vong.”
“I strongly advise against that, Director,” Shesh said.“The most recent attempt at appealing to the Yuuzhan Vong’s sense of fair play ended in the grisly murder of one of our own—Senator Elegos A’Kla.”
“I hold Luke Skywalker and the Jedi accountable for the death of Senator A’Kla,” bel-dar-Nolek said in disgust, “and all that has befallen us. Where were they when Obroa-skai fell? Anyone would think they would have been the first to protect a center of learning.”
“Even the Jedi can’t be everywhere at once,” Fey’lya said.
“Still, I blame them. I blame the Jedi and the Bothans’ own Admiral Traest Kre’fey, who has become a dangerous rogue!”
“I demand a retraction,” Fey’lya fulminated. “Such remarks are blatantly inflammatory and provocative!”
“What information do we have about the genesis of this war?” the director said, playing to the audience. “We have only the word of the Jedi that the Yuuzhan Vong wiped out the ExGal outpost on Belkadan and attacked Dubrillion and Sernpidal. But who is to say that the Yuuzhan Vong weren’t provoked to such actions by the Jedi themselves? Met with hostility, perhaps they simply responded in kind. Perhaps this conflict is nothing more than a perpetuation of that initial misunderstanding, fueled by the subsequent actions of the Jedi at Dantooine and Ithor, in league with certain elements of the military, including Admiral Kre’fey and Rogue Squadron, along with other hapless units that have been dragged into this struggle.”
Bel-dar-Nolek paused dramatically and gestured broadly to the hall. “Where are the Jedi even now? Where is Ambassador Organa Solo? Wasn’t it she, senatorsand representatives, who first brought the Yuuzhan Vong to your attention?”
Alderaanian councilor Cal Omas spoke up. “Ambassador Organa Solo is attending to personal business.”
“And may I remind Director bel-dar-Nolek and other members of this assembly that she does not represent the Jedi Knights,” Shesh added.
“Then just who does?” bel-dar-Nolek pressed. “Why are they permitted to take whatever actions they see fit, without having to answer to this body or to the Defense Force? We are alleged to be members of a New Republic, and yet it seems to me that we are weaker than the Old Republic, which at least had the Jedi under rein.”
He looked around the hall. “I ask you, too, what are the Jedi waiting for? Do they fear the Yuuzhan Vong, or is it that they harbor secret designs of their own? I suggest that you put an end to their reckless conduct, and that you open negotiations with the Yuuzhan Vong, without using the Jedi—or anyone with ties to the Jedi, like Elegos A’Kla had—as intermediaries.”
Viqi Shesh was the first to speak when the hall had quieted sufficiently for anyone to be heard. “Senators, if nothing else, I think we can all take some consolation in the fact that Director bel-dar-Nolek is neither a politician nor a military strategist.” She waited for the laughter and applause to subside. “We must not allow ourselves to be undermined by divisiveness, nor should we allow the fall of Ithor and now Obroa-skai to undermine our confidence in the Jedi. I know that you will agree with me when I say that by weakening the Jedi Knights, we only weaken ourselves.”
SIX
Mara rose from the couch to greet Luke as he came through the doorway of their suite on Coruscant. He met her halfway with open arms.
“It’s about time,” she said, shutting her eyes and holding him close.
R2-D2 trailed Luke into the room, toodled a greeting to Mara, and immediately headed for the suite’s recharge station.
“I would’ve been back sooner if Streen hadn’t asked me to go to Yavin 4.”
“Trouble?”
“Could be. Now that the Yuuzhan
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