Star Wars_ The New Jedi Order 05_ Agents of Chaos 02_ Jedi Eclipse - James Luceno [91]
“Couldn’t you have prevented the New Republic from commandeering Centerpoint?” Jacen asked.
Marcha was gentle in her ridicule. “I’m a political appointee, Jacen. Given that many of my own staff have turned on me for not taking a firmer stand, it probably would have been a wise move to challenge or at least denounce Coruscant’s actions. But without your mother to back me, Borsk Fey’lya would have simply removed me from office and the military would have taken possession of Centerpoint regardless.”
Anakin frowned in confusion. “Any of the repulsors buried on Corellia, Drall, Selonia, or the Double Worlds is capable of fending off an attack by an entire fleet of starships. And with Centerpoint reenabled, Corellia will be as well defended as any system in the New Republic—including Coruscant. So I don’t see why everyone’s protesting what we’re trying to do.”
Marcha and Ebrihim traded knowing looks. “I fear you haven’t been given all the facts, Anakin,” the onetime tutor said. “You’re under the impression that you’ve been summoned to aid in Corellia’s defense, when in fact, reenabling Centerpoint Station has more to do with offense than defense.”
“I knew it would be something like this,” Jacen blurted.
Anakin smiled falsely. “Drall’s lighter gravity is going to Jacen’s head,” he told everyone. “He’s convinced that our coming here is going to upset the balance of the Force or something.”
Jacen smoldered. “You’re not far off, Anakin.”
“You’re the one who’s far off. Anything that will stop the Yuuzhan Vong has the Force on its side.”
“What’s come over you boys?” Marcha interrupted. “You never used to argue.”
“We disagree about this mission,” Jacen said, staring at his younger brother.
“Among other things,” Anakin said under his breath.
Jacen gestured toward Ebrihim. “You heard what he said, Anakin: This has more to do with offense. And you were the one who described Centerpoint as Corellia’s lightsaber.”
“Yeah, which means it can be used to parry or thrust. It all depends on who’s wielding it.”
“Meaning what—that you’ll refuse to help if you find out it’s going to be used for attack?”
“Meaning that I’m waiting to hear all sides of the argument.” Anakin turned to Ebrihim. “Is there proof the New Republic plans to use Centerpoint as a weapon instead of a shield?”
Ebrihim mulled over his response. “The problem, as I see it—and as you yourself assert—is that Centerpoint has the capacity to be both. Even if used as a shield today, there’s no guarantee it won’t be used as a weapon tomorrow. But that inherent duality isn’t the reason for the protests. The cause runs deeper than that.”
“How much do you remember about what the Triad attempted to do during the crisis?” Marcha asked.
“Actually, I don’t remember all that much,” Anakin confessed. “I know they used Centerpoint to create a systemwide interdiction field, capable of trapping hostages and repelling rescue attempts at the same time.”
Ebrihim nodded. “We strongly suspect that the New Republic will attempt to do the very same thing. You see, this operation isn’t about using Centerpoint to safeguard Corellia; it’s about using the station to ensnare the Yuuzhan Vong fleet, and utilizing this system as a battle arena.”
“Oh, brother,” Jacen groaned. “No wonder Corellia’s ready to riot.”
Anakin looked from Jacen to Ebrihim. “You said ‘suspect.’ ”
“That’s correct. We’re not privy to all that’s going on inside Centerpoint, much less inside the minds of the Defense Force command staff. What we do know is this: That despite the proximity of the Yuuzhan Vong fleet to Corellia, the system is effectively undefended. Oh, the New Republic has seen fit to deploy three of our own Strident-class Star Defenders at Corellia, and the flotilla that has been safeguarding Duro has been pulled back to shore up the Outlier systems. But even that amount of firepower is insufficient to ward off a full-scale attack.”
“Which is precisely what the