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“From what you told me,” said Han, getting some snack items ready, “she, you, Saba, and Luke all agreed that Dorvan was the right guy for the job.”

“That’s exactly what happened,” Leia said, spooning some sweet syrup into her tea. She turned around and noted that Han had prepared a plate of fruit, cheese, and crackers. “I thought you didn’t like those things.”

“I thought I didn’t, either,” Han said. “I hate to be beholden to the Squibs for anything, but those crackers are pretty good.”

Without either one needing to say a word, they both headed for their small office. Han perched on the desk while Leia sat in the chair. Both of them pointedly avoided staring at the comm unit. Steam wafted up from their cups.

Han popped a cracker in his mouth and crunched on it for a moment. “So Dorvan’s election should have taken all of about five minutes.”

“Should have,” Leia agreed.

“And they met today at two, and they’re still in the meeting seven hours later,” Han said.

“Sure are,” Leia said.

“I’ll say it,” Han growled. “Something’s wrong.”

Leia nodded wordlessly and picked up her tea, trying to let the hot beverage calm her. But of course, Han was right. With every hour that passed, her anxiety had grown. This should have been the easiest vote the Senate had ever had. Dorvan knew his job, had no real long-term ambitions, and seemingly had no enemies.

Seemingly.

“I wonder if we were just a little too smug,” she said quietly.

“What do you mean?” Han asked. He frowned a little as he ate another cracker. “The Squibs were right. These are better when you dunk them in a malted.”

“We know Dorvan is the best one for the job,” she said. “We know he’s sincere, honest, and wants to do what is best for the GA. Moreover, he doesn’t have his own agenda.”

“Exactly,” Han said. “Even Treen seems to know that.”

“She didn’t want the job,” Leia said slowly, “but that doesn’t mean someone else didn’t.”

Han stared at her. “You think she set this whole thing up to get someone else elected Chief of State?”

Leia lifted solemn brown eyes. “I can’t think of any other reason for the Senate to still be in session.”

Han swore and thumped his mug down so hard some tea splashed onto the desk. Leia reached for his hand and covered it with her own.

“We shouldn’t give up all hope,” she said. “At least whoever it is, is getting some opposition. Otherwise, if it were a done deal, the session would have wrapped up quickly. There are some good, decent beings in the Senate, Han.”

“Some,” Han admitted. “Too few for my liking. Let’s hope they’re strong enough to not let themselves be bribed, bullied, or outvoted.”

The call came at two in the morning.

Leia awoke, instantly alert after years of dealing with late-night emergencies. “Leia,” she said into her comm. She heard the bedsheets rustle, knew Han was awake and listening.

“Leia, I’m sorry to disturb you at this hour,” came the voice of Sullustan senator Luewet Wuul. “But—I thought you should know.”

“Wynn Dorvan was not elected as interim Chief of State,” said Leia. It was a statement, not a question.

“Is there anything you Jedi don’t know?” Wuul said, attempting to sound bluff and hearty.

“Plenty of things, Luew,” Leia said. Her heart felt heavy in her chest. “What happened?”

“I’m not sure I even know,” Wuul said. He sounded tired, angry, and frustrated. “It had been my opinion that Dorvan was the logical candidate. In fact, he was the only candidate. But when his name was put forward, really almost as a formality, that new Senator from B’nish, Kameron Suldar, started speaking. He said that Dorvan was too closely affiliated in the public mind with Daala’s administration to perform effectively, and that the GA needed a fresh new face to represent it. Someone who could never possibly be accused of consorting with Daala.”

“That’s nonsense! Wynn was just doing the best he could as Daala’s chief of staff! In fact, he did a lot to mitigate some of her more egregious policies! Besides, he’d only be governing for two months. The stability of the galaxy should come before putting