Star Wars_ The New Jedi Order 21_ The Unifying Force - James Luceno [91]
“Such actions will require many years, and consume many resources.”
“It is the pattern our ancestors faced time and again in the home galaxy,” the seer interjected. “Wars that lingered for generations.”
The tactician regarded the blaze bugs. “What if the enemy should surprise us by electing to stand and fight?”
Nas Choka smiled. “I will know then, with certainty, that Kre’fey and the rest have contrived a counterstrategy.”
The seer was not pleased by the statement. “Would the infidels dare strike at Yuuzhan’tar in your absence?”
“I have given careful thought to that,” Nas Choka said. “I have calculated the amount of damage they can do, based on their bringing to bear three times the number of ships we know to exist in sectors other than Mon Calamari. I remain confident that they cannot inflict unacceptable damage. I have planned for that eventuality, nevertheless. Should they jump their entire fleet here, so much the better for us.”
“They could interpret the groundwork we’ve laid as an attempt to encourage them to attack Yuuzhan’tar,” the tactician said.
Nas Choka betrayed no concern. “Either way benefits us. But we’re a long way from seeing all sides of this. We must bide what little time remains before Shimrra declares the omens favorable to launch the fleet.”
The seer deliberately placed herself in the warmaster’s gaze. “I have spoken to the other seers regarding the omens. We have agreed to stretch the truth, in order to grant your forces additional time to prepare.”
“Shimrra will see through you,” Nas Choka cautioned. “Especially in light of the appeal I attempted today. Regardless, he will suffer your lies as an accommodation to me, just as he suffers you and your cohorts as an accommodation to the elite. Refrain from attempting to grant us too much delay.” He paused, then said, “In the meantime, we should awaken our masqued spies and infiltrators on all occupied and contested worlds, and instruct them to report on any unusual activity involving the movements of ships, matériel, and couriers.”
“Kre’fey will expect as much,” the tactician thought to point out. “Bear in mind, Warmaster, that enemy disinformation was at least partially responsible for drawing Tsavong Lah to his death.”
Nas Choka touched him on the shoulder in appreciation. “Trust nothing from our network of agents on Mon Calamari. They live only because the Alliance feels there may be some further use for them. Also instruct our masqued spies that while they should keep their noses lifted to the winds, they are to refrain from taking any actions or interfering in any way. I want nothing more than information. I will separate the truth from the deceptions. Above all, I want to give the Alliance just enough vine to hang itself.”
PART TWO
FORCE AND COUNTERFORCE
NINETEEN
Stars filled the sky.
Head tipped back, eyes raised, Luke turned through a small circle, feeling infinitesimal under the giant boras, under the light-strewn expanse. The night was cold—made colder by a polar breeze—but there wasn’t a cloud overhead. Beside him, R2-D2 zithered and twittered, then fluted in what approximated relief.
Luke looked down at the readout on the droid’s dome. “You’re sure about that, little fella?”
The silver dome of the droid’s head revolved, taking his primary photoreceptor through a second survey of the stars and clusters. After comparing the results of his scans to the charts he had downloaded from Widowmaker’s data banks, R2-D2 mewled, chirped, then twittered some more.
Luke smiled and placed his hand on the droid’s dome. “At least we’re closer to known space. I guess we’ll just have to wait to see where Sekot’s next hyperspace jump lands us.”
Rocking side to side on his treads, R2-D2 tootled and fluted.
Luke had been one of the first to emerge from the shelter scooped into the notched cliff face that was home