Star Wars_ Legacy of the Force 04_ Exile - Aaron Allston [14]
He was drowned out, shouted down by the voices of the others. Gejjen was saying, “Now is not the time—” while Koyan roared, “—lack of competence in keeping our access to our own shipyards open—” Denjax Teppler, former Five Worlds Prime Minister, now Minister of Justice, grimaced and spoke inaudible words of calm and caution, motioning with both hands for the others to lower their voices. Rorf Willems, Minister of Defense, was grumbling, “—bit more cooperation is called for here.” Minister of Intelligence Gavele Lemora seemed to be evaluating Wedge, as if measuring him for a coffin. The drones kept conspicuously quiet while the ministers and Chiefs of State raged.
Gejjen scowled and spoke again, this time at a full-throated shout: “Shut up!”
The others quieted and stared at the Corellian leader. Gejjen returned his attention to Wedge. “Admiral, are you saying that with the assault fleet, you could have kept the GA forces out of our system, kept us from suffering the blockade the GA has instituted?”
Wedge nodded. “It’s very likely.”
“Very likely…and you’re also saying that our best course of action now is to negotiate for a no-fault return to the GA.”
“Yes.”
“Even though it would inevitably cost us control of Centerpoint Station.”
The station, home to an ancient gravitic device that could be used to construct entire solar systems—or destroy them—had been near operational when a Jedi mission had sabotaged it, costing the Corellians their most significant weapon. Ben Skywalker, son of Wedge’s old friend Luke, had been the saboteur. Wedge’s association with the Skywalkers was one that everyone present knew.
Wedge nodded. “Chief Gejjen, that result is far superior to being starved into submission and then forced back into the GA under terms dictated by Cal Omas and Admiral Niathal.”
“So we can’t win.”
“Not without wealthy, powerful planetary systems joining on our side.”
“Which we were within a centimeter of having,” Koyan growled, “until Jacen Solo and his parents fouled up our action in the Hapes Consortium.”
Wedge bit down on a response. Assassinating a good ruler, such as Queen Mother Tenel Ka, so that a treacherous, deceptive pro-Corellian one could take her place might help win a war, but the peace that followed would be fragile, uncertain, even evil. However, saying such a thing before this body of men and women would do no good.
Gejjen, seeming to read Wedge’s reply in his expression, looked over at one of his aides. “Bring Admiral Delpin in.” He returned his attention to Wedge. “Admiral Antilles, we have a problem, and the problem is that I don’t think you’re willing to win at any cost.”
“I’m not,” Wedge said. “And neither are you.”
“I am,” Gejjen said.
“If winning meant the Corellian system was the only center of civilization to survive the war?”
Gejjen frowned. “That’s a ridiculous and extreme example.”
“Exactly.” Wedge nodded. “But I’ll bet that it constitutes an example of a victory you wouldn’t be willing to accept. Meaning that you’re not willing to win at any cost. We just have to establish, for this ruling body, what is the maximum consequence in victory that we’re willing to accept.”
Gejjen tried again, demonstrating a level of patience and even respect that Wedge found surprising. “Admiral, you were kept out of the loop on the decision to, eh, adjust Hapan politics because it was clear to the rest of us, based on your history of performance, that you would never sign off on it in its final form.”
“You might be right.”
“But we’re already in agreement that sacrificing the dictator of a distant government is well within the maximum consequence in victory that we’re willing to bring about.”
The door into the chamber hissed open, and a woman in the dress uniform of an admiral of the Corellian Defense Force, the same uniform Wedge wore, entered. She was Wedge’s height and was