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They climbed the stairs to the dining room, but at a walk instead of a run. The other Council members were already inside, but they weren’t seated. Leia said nothing as she passed them. She went to her chair, sat down, and waited until they did the same.

Wedge stood behind her, as support and verification.

She called the meeting to order.

“It’s irregular,” R’yet Coome said, “to have a non-member present.”

“General Antilles is here at my request,” Leia said. “We discovered something rather disturbing this afternoon.”

Wedge opened a pouch and set the detonators on the table. C-Gosf waved a delicate hand over them. “What’re these?”

“We found these in our X-wings. The entire squadron is outfitted with them, apparently,” Leia said.

“They’re detonators,” Wedge said.

“With Imperial markings,” Gno said. He sounded stunned.

Meido’s crimson face did not change color. He peered at the detonators, then smiled at Leia. “Nice try, President.”

The chill she had felt earlier returned. “Try?”

“Try,” he said. “We accuse General Solo and you find a different device that points to the Empire. How very convenient.”

“What do these detonators have to do with the bombing of the Senate Hall?” Wwebyls asked.

Meido shot him a withering look. “Everything, Wwebyls. The President is trying to show us that her husband had nothing to do with the X-wings, and so by implication, we are to assume he had nothing to do with the Senate Hall.”

Leia clenched her fists under the table. Meido was going to oppose her at every turn. “General Antilles has warned the squadrons to bring the X-wings in, but there are some he’s been unable to raise. I want to send a general distress signal throughout the New Republic’s planets so that we can bring home those who might be in danger.”

“What triggers these detonators?” Gno asked.

“We don’t know,” Leia said. “We’re working on that right now.”

“And they’re in every X-wing?”

“We believe so.”

“Oh, dear,” Fey’lya said. “If they’re in each X-wing, where else might they be?”

“Good question,” Meido said. “Why don’t we ask the President.”

“Leia wouldn’t know that,” C-Gosf said.

“She would if she planted them.”

“You’ve gone too far,” Bel Iblis said. “You owe the President an apology.”

Leia waved a hand to silence Bel. “Actually, I’d like to hear why Senator Meido believes I have suddenly become a traitor to the Republic.”

“Your husband, President, and his attack on the Hall. Even you have said he would do nothing without your approval.”

“What are they accusing Han of?” Wedge whispered.

“Treason,” ChoFï whispered back.

“Han Solo!?!” Wedge had stopped whispering. “That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. Han Solo was risking his life for the Rebellion while these cowards were hiding under the wings of the Empire. You, Meido, have no right—”

“Wedge,” Leia said softly. “You’re a guest. You don’t have permission to talk.”

“I can’t believe you tolerate this stupidity,” Wedge said.

“Not everyone believes it’s stupidity,” Meido said. “Who better to betray the New Republic than someone who is one of its most-trusted members. You forget that Palpatine was a senator when he overthrew the Old Republic.”

“None of us has forgotten that,” Gno said. “This is different.”

“Is it?”

“I think you’re being too zealous,” Fey’lya said to Meido. “I know you’re trying to prove you’re worthy of your Council seat. But attacking President Organa Solo is not the way to do it. She and I have had our differences in the past”—and he smiled at Leia as he said this—“but even I would never impeach her good name.”

“You wouldn’t have to,” Meido said. “I’m glad you called this meeting, President, because I was about to call one myself. You need to know that there’s a no-confidence movement in the Senate. There will be a vote shortly.”

“What’s a no-confidence movement?” Wedge asked.

“It means,” C-Gosf said, “that the government will say it no longer has confidence in Leia’s leadership. If the no-confidence vote passes, Leia will have to step down. The