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With that the figure seemed to lean forward, as if bowing, and then the image froze.

“It’s a trick,” Han blurted into the following silence. “You all see that, right?”

“It could be,” Hamner said. “But the Prophet is real. His opposition to Shimrra is real. This could be a genuine offer.”

“He’s not offering anything,” Han replied. “He’s just asking. He’s asking us to fly right to the heart of the Yuuzhan Vong empire and try to attempt some kind of crazy rescue. It’s a setup. Couldn’t be clearer.”

“It’s not a setup,” Tahiri said.

All eyes turned toward her.

“Tahiri—” Leia began.

Tahiri pushed ahead. “His followers are already looking for Zonama Sekot. I met some of them on Dagobah.”

“Means nothing,” Han replied. “How do we even know this guy on that thing is actually this ‘Prophet’? Shimrra has a pretty good spy network with us. How much better do you think it must be among his own people? He figures this Prophet guy would intrigue us, and now he’s baited the trap with him.”

“I don’t think so,” Tahiri said. “I think that was the real thing.”

“Based on what?”

“A feeling.”

“A feeling.” Han rolled his eyes. “A feeling.”

“Kenth,” Leia said, “what about the information on the qahsa? The data about planetary defenses. Can we check it out?”

“I have, to a certain extent. It looks good. We were able to get a drone in and out through some of the weak spots he described. And we have a secret weapon of our own—a captured Yuuzhan Vong ship.”

“You’re really thinking about biting at this?” Han asked, incredulously.

“We think the right team would have a shot.”

“What team?” Leia asked.

“He means Corran and me,” Tahiri said.

“Correct.”

“Wait one vaping minute,” Corran said, before even Han could object. “I thought we’d agreed she would only advise beforehand.”

Leia turned to the Corellian. “You were already briefed on this, Corran?”

“Yes,” the pilot admitted. “Admiral Sorr reassigned me to the mission, but we didn’t discuss this.”

“I’m laying it on the table now so we can talk about it,” Kenth said. “Tahiri speaks their language and knows their ways. She’s flown ships like this before. I doubt very much this mission could succeed without her.”

“Well, it’s blinking well going to,” Corran replied. “Or I’m out.”

“I’ll do it,” Tahiri said.

“No, you won’t,” Han exploded.

Tahiri sighed. “You mean a lot to me, Captain Solo. Both of you do. I’ve never really had parents—not human ones, anyway—and I respect you. But this is something I have to do. Jaina and Jacen do their part. Anakin did his part.”

“And look how that turned out.” Han was trying to sound flip, but she felt the stab of Han’s pain at the mention of his youngest son.

“That’s the chance we take,” she said softly. “It’s the chance you’ve been taking all your life. I know you don’t want to lose anyone else. I know you worry about Jaina and Jacen, and you don’t want to add worry for me to that. But this war has gone on far too long. If things keep going like they’re going, it will only end when one side is exterminated. We have to find another way. That’s why Luke and Jacen went to find Zonama Sekot.”

“Yes, about that,” Leia said. “Hasn’t it occurred to anyone that this might be more than a trap for a Jedi or two? That it might be a prelude to another attack on Zonama Sekot?”

“That’s why I’m here,” Corran said. “If I figure this ‘Prophet’ isn’t operating in good faith, I’ll do what’s necessary to fix things.”

“Luke should have something to say about this.”

“I tried to contact him,” Kenth said. “But there is some problem with the HoloNet in that sector.”

“We just finished saving that relay,” Han said. “It should be working.”

“But it isn’t,” Kenth said. “We’ve sent a team to check it out. In any case, we can’t talk to Luke.”

“We’ll have to use our own common sense, then,” Han said. “You’re walking into this playing by Yuuzhan Vong rules, Corran.”

“Maybe. That’s why I want to do it alone.”

“Maybe you don’t trust me,” Tahiri said.

Corran smiled. “I didn’t trust you even when I knew who you were. Your impulsive actions nearly cost me my life on a couple