Star Wars_ The Approaching Storm - Alan Dean Foster [21]
“This places stinks of the working classes,” Nemrileo, who hailed from the powerful world of Tanjay, sniffed. “It will hide the smell of treason.”
Senator Mousul had to smile. “You talk of committing treason against the treasoners. Don’t get your loyalties confused, Nemrileo. Now is not the time.”
“You don’t have to tell me about time.” The man hunched lower over the table. “But this Ansion business is beginning to worry me.”
“It should not.” Mousul exuded assurance—an easy thing, his questioner mused, since the interests supporting them had promised to back Mousul for the governorship of his entire sector once Ansion and its allies had withdrawn from the Republic. “I am confident that everything is proceeding as planned, and that within a very short time the dominant political force on my world, the Unity of cities and towns, will vote for full withdrawal from the Republic, thus setting in motion all that we hope for.”
“ ‘Everything’?” said an alien female politician whose explosion of straw-colored fur threatened to burst forth from within her tight-fitting camouflaging suit. “That’s not what I hear.”
Mousul gestured indifferently. “A minor glitch. Nothing to be concerned about.”
“I admire your assurance,” the alien female declared. “Not everyone would be so casual upon learning of the arrival on their homeworld of two Jedi, together with their Padawans, in the midst of the most delicate negotiations over secession.”
“I told you.” Mousul’s tone turned darker. “It is being dealt with.”
“It had better be,” Tam Uliss, a business associate from Ansion, declared. “My people are growing impatient. They are ready to move, have been for some time, and dislike having to wait upon the decision of a bunch of minor sentients from a decidedly minor world.”
“The president of the Commerce Guild would not like to hear such talk.”
“That’s why we called this meeting,” muttered the alien female politician. “So we could discuss possibilities without her.” Her yellow eyes burned into his. “And if you weren’t similarly interested, you wouldn’t be here now.”
The Senator raised a cautioning hand. “I said I would come to listen, and to apprise you of our progress in the Ansion matter. I make no judgments. But if Shu Mai says we should restrain our interests until Ansion has declared for secession, then I believe we should listen to her.”
“Should we?” Another of the group showed by his expression as much as by his words that he felt otherwise. “Can Shu Mai and the Commerce Guild truly be trusted?”
“You haven’t met her,” Mousul replied. “Be assured that she can. She has all our best interests at heart.”
“Does she really?” Nemrileo was not so sure. “From what I’ve heard, she doesn’t have a heart.”
“I trust her,” announced the female politician seated next to the cynic. “I know her from her work in our quadrant. What I don’t trust are my own constituents.”
There was laughter from around the private table. “Trust constituents …” “… how very droll!” As soon as the mirth had faded, Mousul spoke anew.
“I have been in touch with my principal contact on Ansion. He assures me the Jedi will be dealt with. Shu Mai continues to show confidence in this individual as well. There are social and commercial bonds that affirm our mutual contract. I suggest you all return to your positions and be of good cheer. All our hopes will be realized soon enough.”
“To be at last free of the corruption and vices of this bloated, inert, so-called Republic!” Tam Uliss exclaimed. “Truly a dream to be wished.”
The Senator looked around the circle. “We are all of the same opinion. And we are fortunate to have someone who believes in our cause as strongly as Shu Mai does to mediate for us with others who for now must remain nameless.” He passed a hand over the table’s response