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Valorum frowned. “Then I would ask that the Jedi see to it that no one involved with the Nebula Front leaves Asmeru. They are to be contained there until further notice.”

Windu stroked his smooth chin. “You could be sending your judicials into a trap.”

“We have to take that risk,” Valorum said sternly, then softened his voice to add, “We should at least attempt to negotiate before deciding on desperate measures.” He looked from Windu to Yoda, and back again.

Yoda stopped moving to gaze unsympathetically at Valorum. “Want to see this conflict resolved, we do.”

Windu interlocked his fingers and leaned forward in his chair. “The Trade Federation should not be granted additional weaponry. Defensive or otherwise, weapons are not the way to settle this. Such actions will lead only to further escalation.”

“I agree,” Valorum said sadly. “And I wish it was that simple. But the Trade Federation is deeply entrenched in Republic politics.”

“At war with yourself, you are,” Yoda remarked. “Caught up in your own conflict.”

Chagrined by the remark, Valorum shook his head from side to side. “These matters require great delicacy, and deals of a sort I am loathe to make.”

Windu firmed his lips. “We will consider what help we could lend at Asmeru.”

Valorum was disappointed “Thank you, Master Windu. I would also request that you consider providing security at the Eriadu summit. No one, I fear, is safe.”

Windu nodded, stood up, and walked to the door. Yoda turned to Valorum before leaving.

“Confer we will, and inform you of our decision.”

Docking rings linked by a rigid cofferdam, the Hawk-Bat and a modified CloakShape orbited drab Asmeru in deeply shadowed concert.

“To be honest, I didn’t expect you to come back,” Havac was telling Captain Cohl in the forward compartment of the gunship.

Cohl sniffed. “To be honest, I didn’t expect to come back.”

Havac’s partner, Cindar, made a show of glancing around the compartment. “Where’s your first mate, Captain?”

“She walked,” Cohl said.

Havac regarded him for a moment. “And you didn’t walk with her? Why not?”

“My business,” Cohl snapped.

Cindar couldn’t suppress a smug grin. “You came back because you couldn’t resist the credits, and she could.”

Cohl gave his head a smart shake. “It’s not the credits that brought me back. It’s the life.” He laughed bitterly. “How does someone like me retire? What do I know about farming?” He slapped the blaster on his hip. “This is what I know. This is how I am.”

Havac swapped satisfied looks with Cindar. “Then we’re even more pleased to have you back aboard, Captain.”

Cohl planted his elbows on the table. “Then make it worth the trip.”

Havac nodded. “Maybe you haven’t heard, but Supreme Chancellor Valorum intends to press for taxation of the free trade zones. If the proposal meets with Senate approval, the Trade Federation stands to see a lot of its profits end up on Coruscant. All well and good, if the Neimoidians would agree to take it on the chin, but they won’t. They’ll try to offset the taxes by raising the costs for shipping with them. Without anyone else to ship with, the outlying systems will have no choice but to pay whatever the Federation demands. Worlds that refuse to play by the new rules will be overlooked, and their markets will collapse.”

“Competition will get cutthroat,” Cindar added. “Especially hard for worlds desperate to do trade with the Core. There’ll be credits galore for anyone willing to take advantage of the situation.”

Cohl gazed at the two of them and smirked. “What’s all that got to do with me? I couldn’t care less what happens to either side.”

Havac’s gaze narrowed. “Disinterest is exactly what this job calls for, since our goal is to change the rules.”

Cohl waited.

“We want you to assemble a team of spotters, trackers, and weapons experts,” Havac said. “They have to be highly skilled, and they should share your penchant for impartiality. But I don’t want to use professionals. I don’t want to take the chance of their being under surveillance