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“No. Show her in. But make sure she understands that I have a flight to catch.”

The Twi’lek bowed graciously and left the chambers. When he returned a moment later he was accompanied by a comely, dark-haired human female, on whom even normally drab senatorial garb looked like evening wear. Golga was a Besadii, but he had more than a touch of Desilijic in his veins, which accounted for a certain partiality to human females. Watching Viqi Shesh, he envisioned her dancing for him, or fetching him succulent morsels of living food. Of greater surprise than her beauty was the fact that she had apparently come alone, without so much as an interpreter.

Golga arranged himself on the couch and motioned Shesh to the closest of several comfortable chairs. “Never let it be said,” he began in Basic when his secretary had exited, “that Golga Besadii Fir is one to allow unique opportunities to pass him by.”

Shesh smiled with purpose. “I’m glad to hear that, Consul Golga. It simplifies matters.”

Golga licked his lips.

“As you may or may not know, recent information has come to light, indicating that the Yuuzhan Vong intend to attack Tynna.”

“Tynna? I know nothing of this.”

“Certain parties thought it odd that no spice was being delivered to Tynna, and they brought this matter to the attention of New Republic Intelligence. Given the Hutts’ alliance with the enemy, members of the Intelligence community had to ask themselves whether the suspension of deliveries was perhaps a cloaked message from Borga—a way for her to reveal the intentions of the Yuuzhan Vong without actually saying as much.”

Golga grappled with what he was hearing. “Clearly you know more about these matters than I do, Senator. In any event, you certainly can’t expect me to speak for Borga.”

“You are her envoy, are you not?”

“Yes, but—”

“Then don’t concern yourself with speaking for Borga. Simply listen as she might.”

Insulted, Golga had an impulse to have Shesh escorted from the chambers, but then thought better of it. “I’m listening, Senator—as Borga would.”

Shesh flashed a warmer smile. “Should the intelligence about Tynna prove reliable, one has to wonder if the suspension of spice deliveries to Bothawui and Corellia might signal threats to those systems, as well. Or”—she held up a meticulously manicured forefinger—“whether this is merely what the Yuuzhan Vong would like us to think, while they devise an entirely different attack.”

She gave Golga a moment to ponder it, then continued. “You see, the senate and the Defense Force are very divided on just this issue. With New Republic fleets widely dispersed to protect the Core Worlds, a decision has to be reached on whether additional ships should be deployed at Bothawui or Corellia.”

Golga laughed. “Senator, I haven’t the slightest idea what the Yuuzhan Vong plan to do next. Furthermore, it is ludicrous to assume that Borga has been made privy to their plans.”

Shesh crossed her legs and leaned forward. “You can assure me of that?”

“I can. Everyone has attached too much import to this so-called alliance. Borga and the clan leaders of the Grand Council wished to avoid a war at all costs. To do so required that we allow the Yuuzhan Vong access to certain worlds in our space—worlds of little consequence—which they intend to mine for resources or remake in some way. Granted, this is a form of aiding and abetting the enemy, but the end result would have been the same had we opted to go to war. We are powerful, but not as powerful as the enemy.”

“The Hutts managed to hold the Empire at bay,” Shesh pointed out. “Delaying the Yuuzhan Vong would have helped.”

“I won’t deny it. But our society would have been destroyed. We have always believed in keeping to ourselves, Senator. We have never attempted to intrude on New Republic space—well, there was that one regrettable episode involving Durga. But other than that, we Hutts have been content to move spice, indulge ourselves with food, drink, music, and dance. We are not warriors, Senator, much less warlords.