Star Wars_ The New Jedi Order 05_ Agents of Chaos 02_ Jedi Eclipse - James Luceno [126]
“Senator Shesh,” the furred and flat-nosed Ranth resumed at last, “it has already been established that the Advisory Council was briefed by Commodore Brand regarding the eventual deployment of the Yald flotilla, and that Commodore Brand, speaking for the Defense Force command staff, stated at the time that Corellia was assumed to have been targeted for attack.”
“That’s true,” Shesh said in a composed voice.
“Then how is it, Senator, that the flotilla wound up being deployed at Bothawui?”
Shesh set her interlocked hands in her lap and lifted her chin slightly. “Commodore Brand failed to make a convincing case for deploying the flotilla at Corellia, so the matter was put to a vote.”
“In his written statement, Chief of State Fey’lya asserts as much,” Ranth said in the monotone that was characteristic of his species. “But we now know that it was never the intention of the command staff to argue too strongly in favor of Corellia.”
Shesh nodded. “As I understand it, Admiral Sovv’s plan called for the enemy to be lured into the Corellian sector by leaving Corellia undefended. Deploying the flotilla there would have compromised the admiral’s strategy.”
Ranth’s pair of conelike sensory horns twitched. “In other words, what passed for a briefing was more in the way of a manipulation.”
The most well-tailored of Shesh’s human lawyers objected. “Senator Shesh has been asked to provide an account of the briefing, not to pass judgment on the tactics or methods of the New Republic Defense Force.”
The five members of the chamber’s mixed-species tribunal conferred and sustained the objection. Ranth was clearly disappointed but forged ahead.
“Senator Shesh, was yours in fact the vote that swayed the council?”
“My vote broke the deadlock, if that’s what you mean.”
“What convinced you that Bothawui would be targeted?”
“It would be more accurate to say that I didn’t believe Corellia would be attacked.”
“Why was that?”
“I didn’t accept that the Yuuzhan Vong were prepared to launch an attack on the Core.”
“Was Fondor mentioned as a possible target?”
“It was not.”
“Had Fondor been mentioned, how might you have voted?”
The same lawyer objected, but Ranth quickly waved his furred hand in dismissal. “I withdraw the question.” He approached the deposition balcony. “Did you have occasion to meet with the command staff prior to the briefing on Corellia?”
Shesh nodded again. “I did. Several days prior to the briefing I met with Commodore Brand, who asked me to speak with Consul General Golga before he departed for Nal Hutta.”
“Did you meet with Golga?”
“Soon after.”
“What was the nature of your discussion with the Hutt consul general?”
“We discussed the separate peace the Hutts had forged with the Yuuzhan Vong, and the possibility of their furnishing intelligence to the New Republic.”
“Did Consul General Golga indicate at the time that the Hutts might be inclined to provide such intelligence?”
“He implied as much, yes.”
“And you were willing to accept him at his word, even though the Hutts were considered to have allied themselves with the enemy?”
“Objection,” another of Shesh’s lawyers barked. “It has been demonstrated that the Hutts attempted to supply intelligence by renewing spice shipments to Bothawui when it was still being considered a potential target.”
Ranth swung to the tribunal. “And by so doing, the Hutts only reinforced the belief that Corellia would be targeted instead.”
The tribunal’s Mon Calamari chief looked at Viqi Shesh. “Senator, do you wish to answer Senator Ranth’s question?”
Shesh smiled faintly. “I can only conclude that the Hutts were trying to keep their options open. I also believe that the Yuuzhan