Star Wars_ The New Jedi Order 05_ Agents of Chaos 02_ Jedi Eclipse - James Luceno [73]
He wagged his clawed forefinger at Omas. “Never underestimate what they are capable of, Councilor. Skywalker’s Jedi are not the Jedi Knights of old, but a surreptitious, ambitious new breed. With Bothawui occupied, they would be ready to make their move and take control of the senate.”
Chelch Dravvad of Corellia took on the fight. “The chief of state should learn to keep his private fears to himself. It is against the Jedi Code to spearhead an offensive, on the battlefield or in any other arena. In this the new Jedi are no different from the old. Skywalker and the rest are attempting to do what the Jedi have always done: uphold peace and justice without turning themselves into full-fledged warriors. If there is a growing misunderstanding of them, it owes to a lack of information. Perhaps by isolating themselves on Yavin 4 they are to blame for some of that. Perhaps their time would have been better spent demonstrating what they stand for. Even so, they have all our best interests at heart, and they certainly haven’t singled out the Bothans as their enemy.”
Fey’lya’s voice became higher pitched. “You’re wrong, Councilor. And I say again that, based on Commodore Brand’s data, I will not grant the command staff’s request that Corellia be reinforced.”
“Then I demand that the issue be put to a vote,” Omas said.
Fey’lya held up his hand to silence debate and looked pointedly at Brand. “What do your actual field agents tell you, Commodore? What do your analysts say? What are you hearing from the costly hyperspace probes you’ve sent out? Instead of relying on conjecture, we should be looking to hard data. We’d do just as well to seek the counsel of a fortune-teller as accept as truth what you’ve told us this afternoon.”
“Our findings are based on neither prophesy nor conjecture,” Brand said firmly. “The data supporting our decision are of a highly sensitive nature, but they are available for your perusal whenever you wish.”
Fey’lya sneered. “Oh, I’m certain you’ve concocted an airtight case, Commodore.” He scanned the eight councilors. “For the record, then, who will begin the vote?”
“I stand with the chief of state,” Fyor Rodan of Commenor declared. “I don’t trust Karrde or the Jedi. With enough popular support Skywalker knows the senate will be constrained to yield to his demands. Then it will only be a matter of time before the Jedi are overseeing all decisions. I warn you, allow Bothawui to fall and we’ll soon be headed for malevolent times—an empire disguised as a theocracy.” He stopped to take a breath. “Commenor will be threatened should Corellia fall, but I am compelled to vote against the Jedi, and for Bothawui.”
“Thank you, Councilor,” Fey’lya said.
“Why not take the battle to the Yuuzhan Vong before they completely outflank us?” Councilor Triebakk asked Brand through his droid translator.
Brand turned to the towering Wookiee. “That isn’t possible without leaving the entire Core unprotected. If we could put the Imperial Remnant and the Hutts at their back, or have the Hapan Consortium open a new front in the Mid Rim, a counteroffensive could be considered. But now is not the time.”
“I agree that we can’t afford to leave Coruscant or any of the Core Worlds open to attack,” Dravvad said, “but do you actually expect us to sit here and debate which world—Bothawui or Corellia—is more important to the New Republic?”
“Not more important, Councilor, more imperiled.”
“Stop wasting time,” Fey’lya snapped. “Your vote will go to Corellia and we all know it.”
Dravvad nodded his head once. “Just as yours must go to Bothawui.”
Fey’lya swung to Cal Omas. “Your vote.”
“Corellia—but not for the reasons you imagine. It simply makes no sense for the Yuuzhan Vong to have struck at Gyndine and Tynna if Bothawui has been their goal all along. Furthermore,