Star Wars_ The Black Fleet Crisis 01_ Before the Storm - Michael P. Kube-McDowell [39]
When that did not produce the desired degree of cooperation, the Imperial governor had children taken instead. Dissent crumbled, but the terror of random seizures continued. When the Imperial occupation army was finally driven from Koornacht, seven thousand Yevetha hostages were found in the governor’s garrison—and the bones of more than fifteen thousand dead.
“Enough,” Leia said. “Please. I’m afraid we’ve already reawakened enough nightmares.”
“I wanted you to understand the depth of our feelings in this.”
“I do,” said Leia. I may understand one of our own better now, too.
“Then let us turn our attention to the future,” Nil Spaar said.
For the next hour, they worked at teasing out what the language of alliance might sound like. Despite apparent good faith, they constantly stumbled over conflicting assumptions, and their progress was hard to measure. But at midday, when the viceroy gathered himself and stood, he pronounced, “This has been valuable and enjoyable. Shall we resume in one hour?”
“I’d be happy to continue through lunch,” Leia offered. “We could have food brought to us.”
Nil Spaar looked momentarily shocked. “With all apologies, that is not possible,” he said. “My people hold it a great affront to propriety to take food in mixed company. And I personally believe it foolish to dilute a worship meal with distracting conversation.”
“My apologies,” Leia said, standing. “In an hour, then.”
“I look forward to it.”
The debriefing session included Leia, Admiral Ackbar for the Fleet Office, Admiral Drayson standing in for Intelligence director General Rieekan, Behn-kihlnahm for the Senate, First Administrator Engh, two recorder droids, and half a dozen senior aides.
Everyone listened without interruption as Leia quickly recounted as much of her conversation with Nil Spaar as her memory would allow. Then all had a chance to question Leia or offer their comments.
The comments were largely predictable. Ackbar, always thinking about strategic issues, was concerned that navigation rights hadn’t come up yet, and wanted that issue given priority in the afternoon session. Drayson, always looking to open intelligence channels, wondered how the viceroy would react to a proposal to revive the Intersystem Library Exchange, in which some of the Yevetha worlds had once participated.
Behn-kihl-nahm, always cognizant of the ebb and flow of power, questioned whether Leia had the authority to negotiate at all without a pending application. And Engh, always aware of the power of money to cement political bonds, urged Leia to dangle the entire catalog of trade goods before Nil Spaar as an inducement to reconsider membership.
“After hearing your report, I expect them to insist that all trade into and out of Koornacht be on Yevetha ships,” Engh said. “Fine for their traders, but not what ours are accustomed to.”
“I’m not sure the Yevetha are terribly interested in trade,” said Leia.
“Interesting,” said Drayson. “If they don’t want membership and they’re not interested in trade, why are they here?”
“I think they’re here because the New Republic has grown large enough and strong enough to begin to worry them,” Leia said. “They don’t want to join us, but they don’t want to be overrun by us, either.”
“How strong are they militarily?” Behn-kihl-nahm asked.
“I don’t think we know,” said Drayson.
“Before the Imperial occupation, there were three systems in the Koornacht Cluster with a Class Two military rating,” said Ackbar. “But that was before. The Empire may have seized or destroyed most of those vessels.”
“According to the viceroy, it’s been nine years since the occupation ended,” said Drayson. “At this point, I don’t think we can guess how extensively they may have rearmed. That ship sitting over at Eastport