Star Wars_ Cloak of Deception - James Luceno [54]
The computer booted up and asked for a passcode, which Pestage provided. A novice operative might have thought to ask Senator Palpatine how he had secured the passcode. But part of what made Pestage a true professional was knowing when not to ask questions.
Taa’s computer welcomed him inside.
Now it was simply a matter of slicing into the relevant files and planting the bits of coded information Pestage had been given. Even so, the infiltration was hardly routine. First of all, the data had to be untraceable, and it had to be implanted in such a way that the computer would be convinced that it had, in fact, discovered the data. Then the computer had to be instructed to reveal the data—to flag it—only in response to specific requests from Taa.
Most important, Taa himself would have to be persuaded that he had uncovered data of such resounding import that he was compelled to shout it from the rooftops.
At the center of the Jedi Temple’s High Council spire was an enormous holographic representation of the galaxy, which highlighted trouble spots and locations of Jedi activity. The spherical projection changed in accordance with signals received by a multifeed assembly located in the tower’s summit chamber, while a collimating disk located beneath the projection focused the signal beams and sustained them through power fluctuations.
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan stood on the circular walkway that surrounded the holomap, waiting to be called before the members of the High Council. Several other Jedi were about, studying the map or headed for one of the three exterior contemplation balconies that overlooked the vast plain of cityscape below the Temple. It was from the dawn-facing balcony that Qui-Gon had had his first real look at Coruscant.
“This is the first time I’ve ever seen Coruscant singled out,” Obi-Wan remarked as he gazed up at the sphere, his elbows resting on the walkway railing.
Qui-Gon glanced at the flashing spheroid that was Coruscant, then allowed his eyes to roam midway to the holomap’s perimeter, where a second spheroid was aglow.
Dorvalla.
“Coruscant should remain illuminated at all times,” he started to say, when yet another spheroid, at even greater remove than Dorvalla, began to flash.
“Eriadu,” Obi-Wan said, reading the graphic attached to it. He looked questioningly at Qui-Gon.
“The site of the upcoming trade summit.”
“Whose idea was that, Master?” Obi-Wan asked.
“Senator Palpatine,” a baritone human voice said from behind them.
They turned to find Jorus C’baoth watching them. An elder human Jedi Master, C’baoth had a chiseled face, white hair as long as Qui-Gon’s, and a beard three times as long.
“Palpatine represents Naboo,” C’baoth added.
“Just the world for Qui-Gon,” another human Jedi said from farther along the walkway.
C’baoth nodded. “More indigenous species in one square kilometer than you normally encounter on a hundred worlds.” He smiled faintly. “I could easily see Master Qui-Gon losing himself there.”
Before either Qui-Gon or Obi-Wan could respond, Adi Gallia entered the holomap room. “We’re ready for you, Qui-Gon,” she announced.
Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan folded their arms, so that each hand disappeared into the opposite sleeve of their cloaks, and followed Gallia to the turbolift that accessed the summit chamber.
“Don’t say anything, Padawan,” Qui-Gon said quietly when they reached the circular chamber. “Simply listen and learn.”
Obi-Wan nodded. “Yes, Master.”
Arch-topped panes of transparisteel afforded unobstructed views in all directions. The ceiling was also arched, and the lustrous floor was designed as a series of concentric circles, inlaid with floral motifs.
Leaving Obi-Wan to wait by the turbolift, Qui-Gon advanced to the center of the room and stood with his hands crossed in front of him.
To the right of the turbolift sat Depa Billaba, a slender near-human