Star Wars_ The New Jedi Order 21_ The Unifying Force - James Luceno [232]
Instead of returning to normal, the galaxy was slowly changing.
Having been crowned a hero—even by his own Bothans—Admiral Traest Kre’fey had assumed the rank of Supreme Commander of Alliance forces, following the unexpected resignation of Sien Sovv. Dif Scaur, the impetus behind Alpha Red, was also gone, gently forced into early retirement by Cal Omas, and replaced as director of Intelligence by Belindi Kalenda. Omas had assured Luke that all stores of the bioweapon had been destroyed, along with the genetic blueprint itself, since there were many who felt that the Alliance had been too compassionate with the enemy. Several species that had endured the brunt of the invasion were still demanding that the entire warrior caste be executed—an act of reprisal even Omas might have sanctioned were it not for Nas Choka’s steadfast willingness to oblige. Still, no one wanted to risk a sudden recanting by the warmaster. So, immediately following the summit, all Yuuzhan Vong warriors had been transferred to the bellies of several Star Destroyers and troop transports, and the vessels that had comprised the mighty alien armada had been launched into Coruscant’s sun, carrying with them all weapons of war.
On Zonama Sekot, repair work to the cliff dwellings and other damaged structures continued day and night. The Ferroans were nonplussed by Sekot’s willingness to bestow half of Zonama on the species that had tried to destroy it. But except for a few of the younger Ferroans who had decided to depart, most of the indigenous population had simply resigned themselves to Sekot’s decision.
Luke had been awaiting an opportunity to gather all the Jedi in one place, and was finally able to do that when Errant Venture returned to Zonama Sekot, bearing the children and other Jedi from the Maw. He gave everyone a day to mingle and catch up, then requested that everyone assemble at the forest clearing where the first coralskippers had been brought to ground.
In groups of three and four the Jedi arrived, until all were present, including: Luke, Mara, Markre Medjev, Keyan Farlander, Tam Azur-Jamin, Octa Ramis, Tresina Lobi, Kenth Hamner, Cilghal, Kyp Durron, Klin-Fa Gi, Tenel Ka, Madurrin, Streen, Jacen, Jaina, Kam and Tionne Solusar, Zekk, Lowbacca, Saba and Tesar Sebatyne, Izal Waz, Corran Horn, Kirana Ti, Tekli, Alema Rar, Kyle Katarn, Waxarn Kel, Tresk Im’nel, Wonetun, Hivrech’wao’Cheklev, Tyria Sarkin and Doran Sarkin-Tainer, Tahiri Veila, Sannah, and the children, including Ben, Valin, Jysella, and some twenty others.
When everyone was settled, Luke stepped to the center of the large circle his friends and comrades had formed. Several of the children sat cross-legged on the loamy soil; others atop the grounded coralskippers. Ben sat contentedly on Mara’s lap.
“The Yuuzhan Vong will begin arriving in the coming weeks,” Luke began, pacing while he spoke. “The first collaborative act between them and Sekot will be to restore the southern hemisphere forests, which were incinerated by the original reconnaissance team fifty years ago. By working with the boras, the Yuuzhan Vong will gradually get to know Zonama, and at the same time Sekot will gradually get to know the Yuuzhan Vong. Their acceptance by Sekot will constitute a second chance for a species that nearly doomed itself to extinction.”
He stopped momentarily. “Now that we finally know what the Force wanted for the Yuuzhan Vong, it’s time to ask what the Force wants for us.”
He gestured to his nephew. “Jacen has already accomplished more than any of us could to speed the rebuilding of Coruscant, and I don’t see it as our duty to devote ourselves entirely to shoring up the Galactic Alliance as it takes its first wobbly steps toward becoming a true coalition. Our mandate to safeguard peace and justice remains, but we have to be wary of any who attempt to define peace and justice by