Star Wars_ The Black Fleet Crisis 03_ Tyrant's Test - Michael P. Kube-McDowell [13]
“So we give them what they want?”
“In the long history of war, far more prisoners have had their freedom bought or bartered than won with arms and noble resolve. There is no shame in compromise.” Doman spread his hands wide to embrace the circle of chairs. “This room—this family—is predicated on that idea.”
“You lost your colonies and your freedom to Palpatine because of that idea.”
“For a time,” Doman said. “But here I am, free. Where is Palpatine? Do not let the heat of the moment limit your options.”
Leia slumped back in her chair and gazed up at the skylight. “I won’t,” she said finally. “But I can’t let you limit them, either, Doman.”
“Leia—”
“We don’t know why the Yevetha have done this—to punish me for Doornik Three-nineteen, or in preparation for something still to come.” She sat forward, as if about to stand. “But whatever the reason, they’ll be watching our response. Don’t you think the worst possible sign we could give them is one that says the New Republic has no confidence in its elected leader? Don’t you think Nil Spaar will be delighted to see the Senate distracted by infighting?”
“There need not be any infighting,” said Doman Beruss. “Step aside until this is over. Let one of us carry the weight. You won’t be shut out, I promise you.”
“I can’t do that.” Leia stood and closed half the distance between her and the senator. “Please—on our friendship, on my father’s memory—I ask you one last time, Doman, to withdraw the summons. Leave me free to do what needs to be done. Don’t make me fight a war on the home front, too.”
“I’m sorry, little Princess,” Doman said. “There’s too much at stake. I have a duty.”
“And so do I,” Leia said, her eyes clouded with a mixture of anger and regret. “I’ll be leaving now, Senator. I have a lot to attend to before the Council session.”
“I hope you’ll reconsider your position,” Doman said, rising from his chair. “I have no wish to embarrass you.”
Leia shook her head. “You’ll only embarrass yourself, Senator—not least in the eyes of a little girl who once looked on you as family, and Exmoor as a second home.”
In the time Chewbacca had been on Kashyyyk, the Millennium Falcon had become Rwookrrorro’s leading attraction. Its arrival had been a signal event, and its presence on Landing Platform Thyss brought an ongoing stream of visitors from Karryntora, Northaykk, and even the distant Thikkiiana Peninsula. They came despite the fact that all there was for visitors to do was look at the outside of the ship and have a holo taken of themselves standing beside it.
Chewbacca had left the ship in the care of his cousin Dryanta and his cousin Jowdrrl. They had nearly begged him for the honor, and they had taken the responsibility to heart. For Dryanta, a pilot, and Jowdrrl, a ship systems engineer, leaving their homes to live aboard her was an almost unmeasurable privilege.
They had kept the Falcon sealed to everyone but themselves and arranged for the platform to be watched around the clock. During the morning and afternoon open-platform periods, either Dryanta or Jowdrrl—and often both—stood watch to see that no one came within arm’s reach of the hull.
But there were no visitors on the platform when Chewbacca, Freyrr, Shoran, and a disconsolate Lumpawarrump approached it. Mallatobuck had chased the crowd away without apology and set Dryanta and Jowdrrl to work preparing the Falcon for space.
[Lumpy, I need you to go to the home tree,] Mallatobuck said after she greeted the party. [Kriyystak has been preparing a food bundle for your father’s ship. See if it’s ready, and bring it when it is. Quickly, now.]
He accepted the chore without protest and hurried off.
[You chose to bring him back rather than leave him with Freyrr,] Malla said, turning to Chewbacca.
[It falls on me, not on him. But he was not ready,] said Chewbacca. [Perhaps he will be more ready the next time. Has there been