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“—So you see, we can go back to the original plans for the Fifth Fleet,” Leia said. “This needlessly provocative mission to Hatawa and Farlax isn’t necessary. There’s no Black Fleet hiding there.”

Admiral Ackbar scanned the list and handed it on to General A’baht, sitting to his right at the great conference table. “Princess, I do not believe this changes anything,” Ackbar said. “It is my intention that General A’baht carry out the search mission as planned.”

“I don’t understand, Admiral,” Leia said, her face showing open surprise. “I went to the viceroy and got you the answers you wanted. Why won’t you accept them?”

“This is meaningless,” General A’baht said, dropping the list on the table. “There’s no documentation, no proof. It’s only their word.”

“I’m satisfied that the viceroy’s word is good,” Leia said.

“Why?” challenged A’baht. “Because you like him? Have you led such a sheltered life that you’ve never been lied to by someone you liked before?”

“I believe him because he wants the same things I do—”

“Or is smart enough to let you believe he does.”

“General,” Ackbar said reprovingly. “Princess, I must remind you that you are the one who agreed to meet with him alone. We are at a disadvantage in judging his motives. But that is not the issue.”

“What is?”

“Whether we are ready to accept that we are now a great power,” said Ackbar. “Princess, a third of that region is now aligned with the Republic. Another third or more is unclaimed, uninhabited, or under dispute. Even if you accept the Duskhan hegemony over all of Koornacht, they control barely a tenth of the region. We have every right to be there.”

“Because no government there can stop us?” demanded Leia. “Is that the morality you think the New Republic should be following? You sound more like an adviser to the Emperor.”

“Leia, we must follow our own principles, or they are meaningless,” said Ackbar. “Under Article Eleven of the Charter, we proclaim a principle of free navigation. Both interstellar space and hyperspace are owned by none, and open to all. We recognize no territorial claims beyond the boundaries of a single star system. Do you believe in the principle of free navigation?”

“Of course.”

“Then there is no precedent for the Duskhan League’s claim to an entire star cluster,” said Ackbar. “I am willing to accept that we will choose not to enter Koornacht at this time. I am not willing to accept that we have no right to go there.”

“It’s what the Duskhan League is willing to accept that matters here.”

“Not more than our principles,” said A’baht. “And not more than our own security. The idea that we should stay away from Farlax because it might upset the Yevetha is absurd. If it comes from them, it’s unreasonable paranoia. If it comes from you, it’s unreasonable timidity.”

Leia’s eyes flashed dark anger. “General, you sound like you don’t care about the possibility of alienating the Duskhan League.”

“If you’re afraid to offend someone, they control you,” A’baht said. “And that’s no way to govern. Or negotiate. No one respects weakness.”

“Is that all friendship is to you—weakness?”

“Treaties aren’t built on friendship. They’re built on mutual self-interest, or they’re no more than polite lies.”

“You are quite the cynic, aren’t you?”

“I’m afraid the general is right,” said Ackbar. “We must honor the same claims we make on our own behalf. But we cannot sacrifice our freedom of action simply to please a would-be ally. We cannot shackle our own hands simply to appease a possible enemy. If we do, we have given away our strength to them. We have raised them up and made them equal to us—when they are not.”

“I thought equality was another of our principles.”

“Between members of the Republic, yes. But even there, you must admit, some are more equal than others,” Ackbar said. “We must look to our own interests first, Princess. And our first and strongest interest here is to learn the fate of the Black Fleet. I would be more than glad if we confirm what the viceroy has told you. But