Star Wars_ Cloak of Deception - James Luceno [71]
In a blur of motion, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan hurried to Tiin’s aid, spinning and leaping in the face of the onslaught.
The gunboats had completed their pass and were swooping in for another strafing run. At a nod from Qui-Gon, he and Obi-Wan leapt ten meters into the air with their swords raised, ripping the repulsorlift engine from the lead craft.
Sparks showered down on them as they landed and rolled for cover. Overhead, the gunboat careened out of control and struck the upper story of the palace, exploding into white-hot fragments and loosing an avalanche of stone onto the plaza.
Tiin and the judicials reached the safety of the pyramid entrance just ahead of the rockslide. Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan followed them inside, as bolts from the second gunboat’s repeater blaster rained against the portal’s engraved columns and monolithic lintel.
Yaddle and the others were massed in the rear of the corridor.
Flattened against the wall, Qui-Gon peered into the plaza. “We have to get to the fighters.”
“If we have to, we will,” Tiin said.
Obi-Wan nodded at Qui-Gon and reactivated his blade.
Lightsabers raised, they charged back into the plaza.
* * *
The High Council Chamber felt empty without the three Masters who had accompanied Vergere, Qui-Gon, and his Padawan to Asmeru. Now it was Yoda who stood at the center of the inlaid mosaic floor, pacing while Mace Windu and the others discussed what was to be done.
“Even without word from the Prominence, we can’t assume that the ship was destroyed, or that any who were aboard have been killed,” Windu was saying. “Everything I feel about the situation tells me that Yaddle and the others are alive.”
“Alive, she is,” Yoda said. “The others, too. But in grave danger, they are.”
“That supports the Nebula Front’s claim that they’re holding a dozen hostages,” Adi Gallia said. “They’re demanding that the Eriadu summit be cancelled.”
“Valorum must not give in to them,” Oppo Rancisis cautioned.
“He isn’t going to acquiesce to the demands,” Windu assured everyone. “He’s aware that by doing so he would only lessen the chances for ratification of the taxation proposal.”
“The Nebula Front is not the important concern here,” Yarael Poof said. “It is the Trade Federation that matters.”
Yoda turned to the long-necked Master. “Thought to be less important, the Nebula Front is. But directing this, they are. Directing all of this.” He paced through a circle, then stopped. “Moving us around like pieces on a holo-game board.”
“Then we need to finish the game,” Even Piell said with conviction.
Windu nodded. “I assured Supreme Chancellor Valorum that there was no need for him to deliver an apology in person. We agreed to intervene in this matter. Therefore, this is as much our responsibility as it is his.”
“Too little thought, we gave this,” Yoda said pensively. “Unrevealed forces at work.” He glanced at Windu. “Clouded, this is. Muddled by motives difficult to perceive.”
Windu interlocked his hands and rested his elbows on his knees. “The senate has promised the Supreme Chancellor whatever authority he needs to deal with the crisis. But we cannot leave the decision to him.”
Yoda nodded. “Focused on the trade summit, he is.”
“The Judicial Department has also been given expanded authority,” Windu continued. “They advocate dispatching additional forces from Eriadu, which is only a jump from Asmeru’s location in the Senex sector.”
“The judicials are on Eriadu to safeguard Supreme Chancellor Valorum and the delegates,” Gallia said.
“The Judicial Department feels certain that they have enough personnel there to deal with both situations.”
“Do we have any assurances that the Senex Houses will stay out of this?” Poof asked.
“We could offer them a deal,” Piell said. “They have long wanted to trade with the Republic, but have