Star Wars_ Cloak of Deception - James Luceno [117]
Antilles let the word dangle for a long moment before continuing.
“Subsequent investigation has shown that the contribution to Valorum Shipping did not originate with a consortium or venture capital group. Rather, the revenue was drawn from a blind account, and moved to Eriadu through a Coruscant bank of dubious reputation. I use the term moved advisedly, Your Honors, since the investment was tendered in the form of hard assets.”
Valorum’s lawyers regarded one another in puzzlement. “Of what sort?” the spokesman asked Antilles.
“Aurodium ingots.”
Blood drained from Valorum’s face, and a stir went through the room. Valorum and his lawyers conferred for a moment, before the spokesman replied.
“Your Honors, we acknowledge that the investment begins to sound, shall we say, less than forthright. Nevertheless, Senator Antilles has yet to demonstrate exactly how this matter relates to the Supreme Chancellor.”
Antilles’s expression made clear that he had been waiting for just this moment. He gazed at Valorum while he delivered his finishing stroke.
“What the Internal Activities Committee finds most interesting, and questionable, is that the value of the aurodium—and indeed the quantity—corresponds exactly to a cache of ingots reported missing by the Trade Federation, following an attack on one of their vessels, the Revenue, in the Dorvalla system, several months ago.”
Hushed conversations erupted throughout the room, as Antilles stepped out from behind the table and approached the bench.
“Your Honors, this is not an indictment. The committee merely wishes to be reassured that the Supreme Chancellor did not have a hidden agenda in supporting taxation, as part of a scheme to enrich his own holdings in the outlying systems. The committee also wishes to be reassured that the aurodium in question did, in fact, disappear from the Revenue, and was not simply transferred to Valorum Shipping, to seal a clandestine partnership existing between the Supreme Chancellor and the Trade Federation.”
Senator Palpatine was one of a hundred or more senators who had been invited to Orn Free Taa’s lavish penthouse for an evening of exceptional food and extravagant drink. What had been touted as an occasion, however, had all the undercurrents of a conclave; and where outsiders assumed that its purpose was to celebrate Valorum’s seeming victory in the Senate, it was instead intended to cheer his recent reversal of fortune.
On the largest of the penthouse’s many terraces, the blue-skinned Twi’lek host was holding forth for an audience of senators, who hung on his every word.
“Of course we knew about the alleged improprieties. But it was necessary to delay mention of the scandal to ensure that the tax proposal would be ratified, which wouldn’t have been the case had Valorum been weakened beforehand.”
Taa shook his head and fat lekku. “No, by waiting to reveal the allegations, and by supporting Valorum, we managed to turn what might have been perceived as an instance of ordinary corruption into what hints at a nefarious plot that threatens the stability of the very Republic.”
“But is there actually anything to the accusations?” Quarren Senator Tikkes asked, his facial tentacles quivering in prospect.
Taa’s enormous shoulders heaved in a shrug of indifference. “There is the aurodium, and there is the appearance of deceit. What else matters?”
“If it is true, then Valorum has become a danger to the general good,” Mot Not Rab remarked.
Tikkes affirmed that with an enthusiastic nod. “I say we shake him, before worse days endure.”
Others nodded in agreement, muttering among themselves.
“Patience, patience,” Taa advised in a soothing voice. “Baseless or not, the allegations have essentially crippled Valorum. We need only to rid ourselves of those senators who have buoyed him in the past, enabling him to remain afloat despite our best attempts to sink him. Besides, there may yet be some advantage to keeping him high and dry.”
“What advantage?” the senator from Rodia asked.
“With his influence further eroded, and the