Star Wars_ Legacy of the Force 04_ Exile - Aaron Allston [50]
“So,” Booster said, and pointed at Han and Leia. “Everybody in the galaxy wants to arrest you two. Except the Hapans, some of whom want to investigate you and some of whom just want to kill you. Are you going to get the Venture blown up?”
“What’s the matter?” Han asked, his voice taunting. “No sympathy for someone everybody is chasing?”
Booster snorted. “Good answer.” Leia knew that he’d been a smuggler before she had been born, and had been sought for his crimes by both Corellian Security and the Empire. Corran’s father, CorSec agent Hal Horn, had arrested him, and the man had spent years on the mining prison of Kessel. These days he was reformed, legitimate…about as much as Han Solo. “All right,” Booster continued. “What is this all about?”
“I’m sure you know all the public facts about the Corellia–GA war,” Wedge said. “I’m equally sure you’re running odds.”
Booster nodded. “When your retirement ceremony was broadcast, odds went to thirty-seven to one for total conquest of Corellia, unless the Bothans come in, at which point it goes to fourteen to one for a negotiated conclusion, with the Bothans selling the Corellians out and getting the rancor’s share of the deal.”
Wedge’s face twitched. “Right. Anyway, the public records don’t talk about the fact that there are odd, unexplained variables at work here. The pressures that have brought this war into being are unambiguous, easy to identify. But there’s additional string-pulling going on that is harder to bring into focus.”
“Such as,” Lando said, “efforts by different groups that would take Han and Leia out of the equation. Take the assassinations of the Bothan politicians on Coruscant. If they were done by Corellians to bring the Bothans in, why haven’t those agents also targeted major figures like Cha Niathal to deprive the GA of some of its strategic strengths, or Jacen Solo as revenge for all the Corellian prisoner-taking? Things aren’t adding up.”
Wedge said, “My instincts tell me that if you bet on all the forces lining up to keep the Bothans out of the war failing, you’ll make a good return on your bet.”
“Hold on,” Booster said. He spoke to the right arm of his chair. “Log that tip.”
“Logged,” the chair said, its voice that of a female protocol droid.
“And then there’s the whole thing with ghosts appearing and persuading previously rational people to do very bad things,” Leia said. “That strongly suggests a Force-user. A dark sider, in all likelihood, if the goal is to help war happen.”
“If there is somebody pulling strings,” Han said, “that rodder is probably on Corellia or Coruscant. That’s where most of the puppets are dancing. And I’m talking about people like Cal Omas and Dur Gejjen being puppets.”
“We sort of stowed away on the Antilles-Horn rendezvous with you, Booster,” Leia said. “But on the flight out here”—she glanced at Han—“we came to the conclusion that the Errant Venture would be an incredible resource for gathering information. Park it in the Corellian system, where there are thousands of restless military personnel, provide gambling and entertainments…people get drunk, talk more freely…”
Han added, “And it’s not as though there’d be a big financial loss. Thousands of restless military personnel, like Leia says.”
Booster snorted. “You think I’m so old I don’t notice financial opportunities anymore? Princess, I applied for access to the Corellian exclusion zone the day it was established. The GA has been sitting on my application ever since.”
Leia resisted the urge to take offense. Somehow, when Booster used the word Princess, he made it a comment about a spoiled little girl rather than an acknowledgment of her former title. But she refused to rise to the bait. She simply nodded. “I’m glad you have no objection. So now all I have to do is get your application approved.”
Booster gave her a dubious look. “Because you and Captain Bloodstripes there are so well loved by the government now.”
Leia matched him stare for stare. “No. Because Jacen Solo swings a big lightsaber with the blockade forces. And if Luke Skywalker tells him that letting