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“Then they are completely undocumented?”

“What do you mean, Senator? I can, if there’s a legitimate reason to do so, bring someone in here who can testify to the time, manner, and location in which those images were recorded.”

“You have misunderstood, President Solo,” Senator Deega said patiently. “If you did not make the recordings, you do not know what was being recorded. You have said that these images document the eradication of certain settlements within Koornacht Cluster. But, objectively viewed, they document nothing. What planets were those? Who was aboard those ships? When did those events take place? Who assembled those images in that sequence?”

“If the Council feels it hasn’t seen enough and chooses to commit the time, I can present the entire unedited intercept—all eleven hours of it.”

“You still misunderstand, President Solo,” said Deega. “For all you can prove, those images were recorded during the Rebellion, light-years away from Koornacht Cluster. If they were recorded at all—the quality of the images does not exceed the capabilities of the best image editors.”

Chairman Behn-kihl-nahm intervened at that point. “Senator Deega, inasmuch as you’re new to the Council, I’m aware that you haven’t had much experience evaluating military intelligence. Much as we would all like to have absolute certainty in these matters, technical espionage does not often allow us the luxury of the exacting standards a scientist has for evidence, or a mathematician for a proof. Sometimes we just have to trust our spies—or, if that asks too much, trust our eyes.”

That brought chuckles from Senators Bogen and Yar, and effectively silenced Deega. But Senator Marook stepped up to fill the void.

“I have no doubt that terrible, shameful things have happened in Koornacht Cluster,” said the Hrasskis, his air sacs pulsing slowly. “I do not question what Princess Leia has shown us.”

Leia waited, knowing not to take his words as a vote of confidence.

“In truth, I found the presentation sufficiently real that I should not like to see any more, or see any more closely. It’s enough to know that the dying are screaming—I don’t find that listening to it adds anything to my understanding,” said Marook. “What I question is the Princess’s claim that this is a matter of great urgency. Perhaps she can help me understand.”

“I’ll do my best,” Leia said, wary.

“These recordings—to the best of your knowledge, they were made days, even weeks ago, yes?”

“That’s true.”

“So what you’ve shown us is history. None of these tragedies can be prevented, or even tempered.”

“No—”

“Then how is this any different from the unavenged atrocities of the Imperial era? Why are we not meeting to discuss how and when to invade the Core in search of the agents of Palpatine’s rampages? Isn’t the real urgency here the waning of your political power, and your desperate need for a dramatic victory to restore your prestige?”

That brought Tolik Yar roaring to his feet in Leia’s defense with accusations of his own. “Bold talk from a traitor who secretly visited Aramadia and plotted with Nil Spaar against his own. You have never explained what you were doing there—besides shaming your people and betraying your oath—”

Marook answered with a lunge and a clenched fist, which brought Senators Bogen and Frammel into it as peacemakers and sent Deega fleeing from the room. Meanwhile Senator Cundertol of Bakura and Senator Zilar of Praesitlyn sat back in their chairs, treating the contretemps as an object lesson and an entertainment, respectively.

“You see?” Cundertol said, leaning toward his companion. “These aliens are always fighting, on the least provocation. It’s in their nature. You can’t stop them—so why should we try? Why are we obliged to protect the weak against the strong? Why not let the weak fall, and then make our alliances with the strong?”

It took all Behn-kihl-nahm’s persuasive skill to bring everyone back to the table and the session back to order. But by then, unanimity