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“Tinkering,” Anakin repeated, snickering. “Let me ask you something: Are you against Jaina flying with Rogue Squadron?”

Jacen glanced at his twin sister, who was on temporary leave from the squadron she had joined only four months earlier. “Not in theory.”

“Are you against Mom and Tenel Ka going to Hapes?”

“Not in principle.”

“Not in principle? The New Republic is hoping to bring the Consortium into the war. If you think of Rogue Squadron or the Hapans as weapons—an extension of that,” Anakin said, gesturing to Jacen’s lightsaber, “then what’s the difference between what Jaina or Mom are being asked to do and what I’ve been asked to do at Corellia? I said I’d help enable the station. I didn’t say anything about firing it.”

Jacen made an exasperated sound and swung to Luke. “Where do you stand on this, Uncle Luke?”

Luke folded his arms. “As I told the Defense Force command staff, I’m opposed to reenabling Centerpoint on the grounds that its power is too unmanageable. And you all know that I was against Daeshara’cor’s attempts to resurrect another Eye of Palpatine. But if there’s even a chance that Centerpoint Station can be used to defend Corellia and spare the fleets for service elsewhere, we’re obliged to do what we can to help make it operational.”

Jacen pressed his lips together and swung back to his brother. “All right, Anakin, have it your way. But I’m going with you.”

Anakin shrugged. “Glad to have you along.”

The debate decided for the moment, the teens settled down and everyone gradually formed a loose circle around Luke and Karrde.

“Talon has a proposition for us,” Luke said. “I haven’t heard it yet, but knowing him as I do, I’m sure it will be interesting.”

“Or at least entertaining,” Kyp Durron mumbled, drawing laughs.

Karrde took the jesting in stride. “As I’m sure you know, the Hutts have struck some sort of bargain with the Yuuzhan Vong. By bargain, I mean just that, since the Hutts would sooner go to war than roll over for an enemy, no matter how commanding. So it stands to reason that in exchange for allowing the Yuuzhan Vong into their space, the Hutts asked for and got something in return. To figure out what that is, all anyone needs to do is follow the spice.”

Karrde paused briefly. “I’ve been doing just that, and I haven’t noticed any signs of interruption in the flow of spice—except in three systems: Tynna, Bothawui, and Corellia.”

He waited until the murmuring died down before continuing. “The Hutts wouldn’t suddenly cease deliveries to three profitable sectors unless there was good reason to avoid them. I’m willing to bet that the reason has to do with intelligence the Yuuzhan Vong provided as their part of the deal. Namely, that those systems have been targeted for invasion.

“The fact that no one has moved in to pick up the slack suggests that the Hutts have advised all their partners and subcontractors to steer a wide berth around Tynna, Bothawui, and Corellia. But even this doesn’t add up to a case good enough to present to the New Republic. To do that would require proof positive that avoiding those worlds isn’t just the result of the Hutts speculating about where the Yuuzhan Vong will strike.”

“Why not approach the Hutts and ask them directly?” Kenth Hamner asked. Tall and wellborn, Hamner had been a Defense Force colonel before resigning from military life to follow the Jedi way.

“Easier said than done,” Karrde said, “and in fact, the New Republic is trying to do just that. But if someone outside the military could furnish corroborating evidence, the Defense Force would have what they need to catch the Yuuzhan Vong completely by surprise.”

“Why do you come to us with this?” Streen asked. “You’ve been liaison between the Imperial Remnant and the New Republic since the peace accord. You certainly don’t need us to get the attention of Admiral Sovv.”

“I know why he’s come to us,” Kyp Durron said, keeping his eyes on Karrde. “Because the New Republic left him out of the loop when they asked Leia to approach the Imperial Remnant about joining