Star Wars_ Fate of the Jedi 06_ Vortex - Denning Troy [42]
“And she would think that just because Octusi are pacifists, they’re pushovers,” Kyp said, nodding enthusiastically. “She’s still that much of an Imperial.”
“That would mean Freedom Flight knew about the Mandalorian reserve,” Leia observed. Her expression was thoughtful but certain. “Otherwise, they wouldn’t expect Daala to respond so quickly—and they wouldn’t have had Madhi Vaandt waiting to expose her.”
“You are saying Freedom Flight must have a spy inside Daala’s office,” Saba surmised. She cocked her scaly head in contemplation, then dipped her chin. “This one agrees. It explainz much.”
“Yeah, it’s beginning to look like these Freedom Flight guys have spies everywhere,” Han said. “Kind of makes you want to know who they are.”
Whether Han meant the comment to be a jab at Barratk’l was difficult to say, but the anger that flashed through her dark eyes suggested how she had taken it. Not wanting Barratk’l’s relationship with the rest of the Council to turn sour so quickly, Kenth scowled in Han’s direction.
“If Master Barratk’l had anything to do with Freedom Flight, I’m sure she would have told us by now.” He waited until Han finally rolled his eyes and looked away, then gave Barratk’l a warm smile. “It’s not as though there would be any reason to hide such a laudable endeavor from the Council.”
The Yuzzem’s eyes softened, and Kenth knew he had earned her gratitude. Only eight more Council members to go, and he might be able to consider himself worthy of the chair he was occupying. He looked away from Barratk’l and ran his gaze around the rest of the Masters.
“So,” he said, “now that we understand the situation, what are we going to do about it?”
The blank looks that greeted the question suggested two things to Kenth. First, the Masters’ opinions of him had fallen so low that this was the last thing they had expected him to ask. And, second, he still had a chance to win them back.
“I think it goes without saying that we can’t permit a slaughter of this magnitude,” Kenth began, “no matter what kind of impact it might ultimately have on the condition of other slaves in the galaxy.”
Support came from an unexpected corner—Corran Horn. “Agreed. There is no tomorrow, only what we do, or fail to do, today.” He was quoting a new precept the Council was currently thinking of adding to the Jedi Code as a reminder to young Jedi Knights that the pursuit of noble ends never justifies base means. “We need to end this revolt before it turns into a bloodbath.”
Kenth paused and ran his gaze around the circle, giving each Master an opportunity to object. When none did, he said, “Ending this revolt will put the Jedi Order temporarily on the side of the slavers and the Mandalorians. Can we accept that?”
“This one cannot,” Saba objected. “We can also end the revolt by chasing the Mandalorianz away.”
“I don’t see how,” Tionne said. “If the Octusi will keep marching until they win, we’ve only delayed the confrontation.”
“Sometimes delay is prevention,” Saba replied. “The Blaudunz and the Octusi are not enemies. Without interference, they will come to their own arrangement—without blood.”
Kenth remained silent, waiting for someone else to point out the flaw in Saba’s plan. When no one did, he realized he would have to do that himself.
“Are you suggesting the Jedi take military action, Master Sebatyne?” he asked. “Because, at the moment, that is just not possible.”
“Of course it is not possible.” Saba’s tail thumped the floor so hard that Kenth felt the impact through the seat of his chair. “We have the Sith to fight.”
“So you’re suggesting … what, exactly?” Kyp asked. “Because chasing off an entire brigade of Mandalorians is a pretty tall order, even for a Jedi Knight.”
“You are right, Master Durron,” Saba said. “We may have to send two.”
The silence that followed suggested that the rest of the Masters were as stunned by the suggestion as Kenth was.
After