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“When you already know the outcome.” She shook her head. “I can’t let the tilt of the table decide my course. I just don’t believe that everything that matters can be quantified for the calculus.”

With his indignation undisguised, Rattagagech gathered his tools and left.

Leia had one last visitor from the ranks of the Ruling Council before the day was out. Dall Thara Dru—the senator from Raxxa, chairman of the Senate Commerce Council, and the only female among the seven—had had nothing to say at the last meeting. Behn-Kihl-Nahm’s head counts included Dru as a supporter, but that made Leia even more unsure about what to expect from her.

“Thank you so much for making time for me,” said Dall Thara Dru as she glided into Leia’s office. “This terrible business—I can’t imagine! Your life must be completely upside down.”

“I appreciate your sympathy—”

“This petition against you is the worst kind of foolishness I can think of. I just came from Chairman Beruss’s office, and I’m afraid I found him quite immovable—stubbornly attached to the notion that you are the problem. As if it were your fault that there are dead planets all across Koornacht Cluster!”

“I’m grateful for your support—”

“Still and all, I’m afraid that Doman has influenced enough minds to give you a great deal of trouble when the Council meets on the petition. So I’ve been asking myself, what can be done? How do we reassure the others that you have matters well in hand? And then I realized that the answer is the question no one seems to be asking!”

“Which is—”

“Where is Luke Skywalker?” said Dall Thara Du. “Where are the Jedi Knights?”

“I’m sorry, Senator Dru,” said Leia. “I don’t understand.”

“Why, Skywalker singlehandedly defeated the Emperor. Surely he can handle these Yevetha without any trouble. And if he needs help, he’s raised an entire army—at New Republic expense, mind you!—of wizards like himself. Well, no wonder Beruss objects to sending our sons to Koornacht. Why do we have to fight this war? Where are our Knights?”

“The Jedi are not the New Republic’s army, Senator Dru—or its mercenaries, or its secret weapon,” Leia said evenly. “If you’re suggesting that I come to the Council and say, in effect, ‘Don’t worry, my brother will take care of this for me’—”

“Oh, of course,” Dru said breezily. “I know that you can’t tell the chairmen exactly what you have planned. Just let them know that the Jedi are standing with you—that’s not too much to say, is it? We’re trying to shore up their confidence, after all. And who better to inspire confidence than Luke Skywalker?”

“That is too much to say,” Leia said. Her tone was frosty, her words blunt. “Chairman Dru, I haven’t asked for the help of the Jedi. And neither have they offered it. There are no secret plans to conceal. The New Republic can and will fight its own battles—as will I. And if you’re someone who supported my nomination thinking it was a package deal—‘Hey, we get Luke Skywalker for free’—I’m sorry to say that you were mistaken.”

There were no more postponements. The next morning, Leia stood in the well of the Council chamber, facing Doman Beruss.

“President Leia Organa Solo, have you read the petition of no confidence offered against you?”

“I have, Chairman.” Her voice was steady and strong.

“Do you understand the charges contained therein?”

“I do, Chairman.”

“Do you understand the particulars offered in support of the charge?”

“I do, Chairman.”

“Do you wish to offer a response to the petition?”

Leia glanced at Behn-Kihl-Nahm, seated to Beruss’s right, before answering. “Chairman, I contest the petition in its entirety. I’m shocked and dismayed that it was ever offered.”

Behn-Kihl-Nahm slumped back in his chair, weariness causing his features to gray.

“It’s not only a personal insult, it’s a political mistake,” Leia continued. “I have to wonder if the chairman has started taking his counsel from Nil Spaar—because he’s the only one who stands to benefit from our infighting.”

“There need be no infighting,” said Krall Praget. “It’s clearly better for all if