Star Wars_ The New Jedi Order 05_ Agents of Chaos 02_ Jedi Eclipse - James Luceno [74]
“Spoken like a true Alderaanian,” Fey’lya muttered. “Also, Councilor, you falsely assume that surrender to the Yuuzhan Vong guarantees survival. But that is another matter.” He turned to the Sullustan, Niuk Niuv.
“The Corellians have long wanted independence,” Niuv began. “We nearly went to war with them in recent memory over that very issue—a war that only strained relations to the breaking point. The New Republic is under no constraint to defend Corellia. But the fact of the matter is that Corellia’s lack of defenses will be its salvation. The Yuuzhan Vong will strike against Bothawui.”
“Your sense of direction is astute, Councilor,” Fey’lya remarked, “and I further applaud you for breaking ranks with Admiral Sovv.” He turned 180 degrees. “Councilor Triebakk. Do I even need ask?”
“I accept Commodore Brand’s data, and defer to the expertise of the command staff,” the Wookiee said through the translator. “The Yuuzhan Vong plan to use Corellia as a staging area to penetrate the Core—”
“There’s no need to belabor the point,” Fey’lya cut him off. He narrowed his eyes at Councilor Pwoe. “And you?”
The Quarren’s mask tentacles quivered and his baggy eyes narrowed in anger. “Corellia. As Councilor Omas said, Bothawui is adequately defended by some of the very Bothan Assault Cruisers it convinced the New Republic to finance some time ago.”
“And I can promise you that we will make use of all those cruisers, even if we have to withdraw them from the Core,” Fey’lya barked.
“Hasn’t it always been Bothawui’s aim to claim those ships as their own and prove itself mightier than Mon Calamari, Sullust, and Coruscant?”
Fey’lya smirked. “So Pwoe—disconcerted by Mon Calamari’s loss of the military prestige—votes not so much for Corellia as against Bothawui. Next!” He looked to Navik of Rodia.
Navik’s short snout bobbed. “Rodia’s proximity to Bothawui leaves me little choice.” He nodded affirmatively to Fey’lya.
The chief of state nodded back and commenced a head count. “Pwoe, Omas, Triebakk, and Dravvad in favor of Corellia. Myself, Rodan, Niuv, and Navik in favor of Bothawui.”
Everyone looked at the council’s ninth and newest member.
“I’m afraid the decision falls to you,” Fey’lya said.
Commodore Brand waited, expectantly.
“Even with the evidence of Tynna to support a possible threat to Corellia, an attack on the Core makes no sense strategically. If the Yuuzhan Vong were going to launch an offensive so far from their present stronghold in Hutt space, why would they waste valuable resources engaging a system we essentially stripped of defenses after the Centerpoint Station crisis rather than strike at a more appropriate target, like Kuat or Brentaal? No, I say all things point to an attack on Bothawui—from Hutt space and now from Tynna. I stand with Chief of State Fey’lya.”
Fey’lya breathed a long sigh of relief. “I commend your flawless reasoning, Senator Shesh.” He smiled ruefully at Commodore Brand. “The matter is resolved. Assemble your task force, Commodore, but steer it to Bothawui.”
“We’ve beaten them at their own game,” Commodore Brand announced as he hurried through the doors of the fleet office. “Senator Shesh kept her promise: She threw the vote to Bothawui.”
Hoots of success filled the room.
“Shesh also reports that her meeting with the Hutt consul general went well,” Brand added. “We may yet get some help from the Hutts. Now we need to hear from Hapes.”
“The Consortium vote is set for tomorrow,” his adjutant supplied.
Brand couldn’t restrain a smile. “It’s all coming together. But now the real work begins.” He strode to a holomap not unlike the one he had made use of only moments earlier in the Advisory Council chambers. “The Yuuzhan Vong have obviously been looking closely at both Corellia and Bothawui, assessing the value of each. By deploying the new task