“He ask me hunt animal nest for him,” the Barabel said. “Animals bothering little ships—eating at sides. I do what he say. He burn animal nest, get money. But then he pay me in no-good money.” He gestured down at a now scattered pile of gold-colored metal chips.
Luke picked one up. It was small and triangular, with an intricate pattern of lines in the center, and inscribed with a small “100” in each corner. “Anyone ever see this currency before?” he called, holding it up.
“It’s new Imperial scrip,” someone dressed in an expensive business coat said with thinly veiled contempt. “You can only spend it on Imperial-held worlds and stations.” —Dark Force Rising
----------------------------------------------------
Wedge set them down in the same spot as yesterday, less than a hundred meters from the stairs that led up to the Law House’s main entrance. “You’re sure this is a good idea?” he asked no one in particular as he shut off the repulsorlifts.
Leia answered for all of them. “Not really,” she said from the seat behind him as she fingered the lightsaber hanging from her belt. She’d left her blaster back in the suite, same as the day before; but today she had decided to bring her lightsaber with her, conspicuously hanging off her side. A not-so-subtle reminder that she was more than just some Republic bureaucrat. “But I think it’s the best chance we’ve got. Right, Chewie?”
From his seat in front of Threepio, Chewbacca growled his agreement. “All right,” Wedge said, checking his own blaster before returning it to his side holster. “Then let’s do it.”
He popped the doors, and together the four of them exited the airspeeder and headed up the stairs towards the Law House. The same livery-clad sentries were standing guard; but today they gave Leia considerably more than a cursory glance as she passed, their eyes resting on the lightsaber on her belt. But they’d seen her speaking with the Premier himself only yesterday, and they knew better than to give her a hard time. “Head on in, Councilor,” one of them said as she passed. “The Assembly is expecting you.”
The Assembly was indeed expecting her, Leia discovered as they hurried down the tree-lined hallway and entered the main chamber itself. All the Legates were seated and waiting, and Captain Harbid had already taken his position in the center circle. “Councilor Organa Solo,” K’cheng breathed with relief, running up to her. “Thank goodness you made it. We were about to send someone to look for you.”
“I apologize for my tardiness, Premier K’cheng,” Leia said, studying the row of Legates. There he was, ostensibly in discussion with another aide, but Leia could see his eyes flicker toward her as she entered: M’eung. “Are we ready to begin?”
K’cheng nodded, ushering her toward the center circle. Leia could feel the eyes beginning to turn on her as she walked down the aisle toward her assigned spot, Chewbacca and the rest of her team in tow. “Councilor,” M’eung called out as Leia reached the bottom of the aisle. “I am so pleased you could finally join us.”
“That is enough, thank you, Legate M’eung,” K’cheng said from where he had resumed his seat at the top of the circle. He waited until Leia had taken her previous seat, and then: “With the arrival of both delegates, the second day of the conference is begun. Today we will hear the proposal of the petitioner from the Empire. Captain Harbid, if you would?”
Harbid nodded and started to rise from his seat, accepting the data pad handed to him by his junior officer. “Your pardon, Premier,” Leia interrupted, rising from her own chair. “I wish to say a few words before Captain Harbid begins his petition. With your permission?”
“What is this?” M’eung demanded. “Premier—”
“Thank you, Legate,” K’cheng waved him silent. He studied Leia for a moment, then turned to Harbid. “Captain Harbid, do you have any objection?”
Harbid studied Leia, too. “I have no objection, Premier,” he said, almost unwillingly. “Please continue, Councilor.”
“Thank you, Captain,” Leia said, moving toward the center of the circle. This is it, she told herself. “First, I wish to apologize one last time for my tardiness today. I received a visitor last night who revealed some things to me that I have spent the past twelve hours considering. Some of these I will share with you in a moment, and you will see why I am late because of them.
“Yesterday I spoke to you of the virtues of the Republic, and I was told these virtues were nothing more than dreams and half-truths. Yet it appears this very conference has proceeded under a half-truth.” She gestured at Threepio. “My protocol droid tells me that the Obroans value fairness and transparency above all things, and so I was discouraged to discover last night that these talks have been anything but transparent. Isn’t that right, Legate M’eung?”
M’eung seemed surprised at being addressed. “Excuse me, Councilor?”
“Yes, Councilor,” K’cheng added carefully. “To what are you referring?”
“I am referring to a deception perpetrated against this very Assembly, Premier K’cheng. I was told for my cause I would receive a fair hearing from an impartial body. So you can see why I was disappointed to learn there is an Imperial agent among the Legates.”
She saw M’eung stiffen. “And who would that be?” another legate demanded.
Leia pointed a finger. “Legate M’eung.”
A sudden buzz of conversation filled the chamber. “Order!” K’cheng barked over the noise, slamming his gavel. “Order!”
“This is outrageous!” Leia heard someone shout. But she kept her focus on M’eung, who sat stewing and glaring back at her silently.
K’cheng waited until the noise had died down before proceeding. “These are indeed strong claims, Councilor,” he told her, his voice almost pleading. “Such accusations are highly unorthodox.”
Leia ignored him. “Legate?” she asked. “How do you respond?”
M’eung glared at her for another heartbeat. “I do not know if this is how things proceed among your Inner Council,” he bit out, “but here in the Obroan Assembly we do not entertain such wild statements casually. I hope you have proof to support your claim.”
“I do,” Leia confirmed. “It occurs to me that anyone on Thrawn’s payroll would have to do a pretty good job of hiding the money trail. A simple bank transfer wouldn’t work--we saw with Admiral Ackbar how easily that can be tracked. He would have to be paid in credits.”
She gave Chewbacca and Wedge a short nod; and together the two of them got up and started moving towards M’eung’s chair. “What is the meaning of this?” M’eung growled at Leia. “What are you doing?”
“Looking for my proof,” Leia told him. “Wedge?”
“Yes, Councilor,” Wedge said, stepping up to the Legates’ tier as Chewbacca came around on the other side. “Excuse me, Legate, but would you mind emptying your pockets?”
M’eung just stared up at him, his former glare giving way to disbelief. “Go ahead,” Wedge indicated, and with his usual Wookiee strength Chewbacca picked M’eung up easily and started rifling through his robes.
“Really, Councilor!” K’cheng exclaimed. “This is highly unorthodox!”
“What is the meaning of this?” M’eung squealed as he dangled in Chewbacca’s arms. “You have no right to do this!”
After a moment Chewbacca set him back down in his seat. “Forgive me, Premier,” Leia said, “my droid has also warned me about the importance of propriety among your people. But it was necessary. Chewie?”
With great effect, Chewbacca started laying out the things he had found on the table in front of him. There was a comlink, of course, and a couple data cards beside it. And next to the data cards—
“What are those?” the legate sitting next to M’eung asked.
Everyone leaned in closer to look. Next to the data cards was a collection of small, gold-colored triangles, various denominations from “100” up to “5000” listed in the corners. “They are my proof,” Leia said, feeling a final relief. The Force was indeed still with her. “They are Imperial credits. Only issued by Imperial banks, and only good on Imperial worlds.”
A stunned silence filled the chamber. Leia took a moment to glance at Harbid; but he was sitting quietly, his face unreadable. “Legate M’eung?” someone finally spoke up. “Is this true?”
M’eung didn’t respond. “Captain Harbid?” Leia tried. “This is Imperial scrip, is it not?”
Harbid let out an almost inaudible sigh. “It is.”
“But how did you come by it, Legate M’eung?” another legate asked. “Surely you have an explanation!”
M‘eung stared down at the table, and the credits laid out there. “I have none,” he said softly.
“I do,” Leia said, turning back towards the entire chamber. “The only reason he would be paid in Imperial credits is for work done on behalf of an Imperial employer—like, for instance, Grand Admiral Thrawn. I‘m sure a quick inspection of his residence will uncover even more where this came from.”
If the silence had seemed stunned before, it was positively flabbergasted now. “These are indeed strong claims,” K’cheng said, composing himself. But his eyes drifted towards the credits in front of M‘eung. “We must further investigate, to discover the truth of them. Warden?”
A second later another livery-clad guard emerged from the crowd. “Please take Legate M’eung into custody, while we arrange for an examination of the Legate‘s residence,” K’cheng instructed.
The warden nodded, moving past Wedge to take M’eung strongly but firmly by the arm. “Legate?” he said. “Would you come with me, please?”
For a moment it seemed like M’eung was going to resist. Then, reluctantly, he permitted the warden to lead him down the aisle and up the stairs. “Thank you, Councilor,” K’cheng said to Leia, giving her a smile. The other Legates didn’t seem to notice, focused as they were on watching M’eung being escorted out the door. “Given the revelation of these events,” K’cheng continued, facing the remainder of the Assembly, “I think it best that we postpone further talks until the investigation is complete. Are there any objections?”
The hall remained speechless. “Very well,” K’cheng said, tapping his gavel one last time. “Then the Assembly is dismissed.”
* * *
“Leia!” Mon Mothma greeted; and maybe it was just the poor quality of the holo, but somehow her face looked less worn than usual. “I just heard the good news from Premier K’cheng. Congratulations!”
“Thank you,” Leia said politely, not entirely sure what the other was referring to. “What exactly is the good news?”
Mon Mothma smiled openly. “He says the Obroan Assembly is going to seriously consider our petition to join the New Republic,” she explained. “I don’t know what you did out there; but whatever it was, it worked. Good job! I knew I could trust you to get it done.”
“It wasn’t just me,” Leia told her quickly. “I had some help.”
“Of course you did,” Mon Mothma said, not quite understanding. “And I’ll be sure to put in a good recommendation for Commander Antilles with Admiral Drayson; but you deserve credit, too.”
“I‘ll just be glad to come home,” Leia said. She hadn‘t told Mon Mothma—or anyone on the Inner Council—about the Noghri yet, and she didn‘t intend on starting on an open channel. “How soon until Chewie and I can leave for Coruscant?”
“I think it best you stay two or three extra days. Just in case Premier K’cheng wants to hammer out any details in person. Don’t worry,” Mon Mothma added sourly, “there will be plenty of work waiting for you here when you get back.”
And Han, too. For the first time in three days, Leia realized how much she’d missed him. “Then I’ll contact you in a couple days,” she said. “Thank you again, Mon Mothma.”
“No, Leia,” Mon Mothma shook her head, “thank you. Without you, the Obroans would probably have fallen for the Empire’s deception. Once again, the Republic is in your debt.”
And if Ekhrikor hadn’t shown up with his little tip? But he had, and it didn’t do to worry about it now. “The Republic’s in all our debts,” she said, dimly wondering where the Noghri had gotten to, anyway, “including yours. I’ll talk to you in a few days. Obroa-skai out.”
* * *
Harbid stood silently before the hologram pad, knowing better than to be the one to speak first. Fortunately, he didn’t have a long wait. “So,” the flickering image of Grand Admiral Thrawn said. “The mission is a failure, then.”
“Yes, sir,” Harbid said, trying not to think back to all the stories of how Lord Vader had dealt with his subordinates’ failings. He’d worked under Thrawn long enough to know the Grand Admiral didn’t favor such methods, anyway. At least, not usually. “I’m sorry, Admiral.”
“No need for apologies, Captain,” Thrawn said, but his expression hardened. “This is not your failure. Legate M’eung was careless to keep any evidence that could link him with us. And he will suffer the full consequences of Obroan law for his error. I only wish the law was more harsh.”
“Yes, sir,” Harbid said again, feeling a relief wash over him. He forced his mind back to the business at hand. “If may ask, what is our next step?”
For a moment Thrawn’s glowing red eyes got distant. “I suppose we have no choice,” he sighed. “We must resort to alternative methods of persuasion. Prepare your ship. Commence the attack.”
“It will be done,” Harbid promised, trying hard not to sound too eager. Thrawn may prefer finesse over force, but not Harbid. “Do you want merely a demonstration, or actual destruction?”
“I leave that decision in your hands, Captain. The Obroans’ defenses are hardly top of the line, and I don’t anticipate they’ll give you much trouble.”
A pity, that. “What about Organa Solo?”
“Ah, yes. Our esteemed Councilor.” Thrawn considered. “I leave that decision in your hands as well. Organa Solo would make an added bonus, without a doubt.” Harbid agreed with that, at least; if rumors were to be believed, the Admiral had gone so far as to promise her to that crazy Jedi of his, C’baoth. “But remember the Central Libraries are our primary objective here. I won’t have that compromised over a distraction. Is that clear?”
It was clear enough to Harbid. “Certainly, Admiral. I’ll see to it. Two hours from now, Obroa-skai will be completely under Imperial control.”
“Then I look forward to two hours from now,” Thrawn said dryly. “Chimaera out.”
There was the slight hiss of static as his holo image sputtered and vanished. “Lieutenant,” Harbid said, not missing a beat as he switched on the intercom, “this is Captain Harbid. Please instruct the landing field to have my shuttle readied. And inform the Death‘s Head to anticipate our arrival. We‘re leaving.”
There was a muffled acknowledgement on the other end. Yes, Harbid reflected as he switched off the intercom, looking out the window at the quiet Obroan cityscape and the boxy shape of the library in the distance. It was clear, all right. If the Grand Admiral wanted the Obroan Central Libraries, Harbid would see to it that he got the Central Libraries.
And if Harbid got a chance at payback for Organa Solo’s humiliating little stunt this morning…well, all the better for him.
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