Star Wars_ The New Rebellion - Kristine Kathryn Rusch [103]
“They can’t do that,” Wedge said. “You’re Mon Mothma’s chosen successor.”
“Yes, they can,” Gno said. “Chosen or not, she was ratified by a vote.”
Everything was moving too fast for Leia. It was all spinning out of control. She could handle the big, obvious threats, but the treacheries hidden everywhere, even in little bugs inside machines, were too much. Leia’s fingernails were digging into her palm, she would maintain a semblance of calm, even if she weren’t really calm. She would regain control. The first place to do so was inside this room.
She turned to Meido. “What’s the no-confidence vote based on?”
“On the preliminary bombing results,” he said.
“Really?” Her voice was cold. She made herself as haughty and regal as she could, even though she wanted to tear him from limb to limb. “And how did the full Senate get those results, considering that they were part of a private meeting of the Inner Council?”
The room suddenly became very silent.
“I—ah—I don’t know, President,” Meido said. Now the crimson was fading from his face. She finally decided that she liked that trait. It broadcast his emotions.
“You don’t know?” she asked. “And yet the full Senate will be voting based on facts from a closed session of the Inner Council? A vote I didn’t know about. How did you find out?”
“President,” R’yet said softly, “Meido, Wwebyls, and I are new to the Inner Council. We don’t know all the rules.”
“That argument held last meeting, R’yet,” Leia said. “I won’t accept it this time. You know the rules. You have just decided to play differently. Well, it won’t work. This is not the Empire. We do things aboveboard here.”
“Except,” Meido mumbled, “sabotage.”
“President Organa Solo has done nothing wrong,” Gno said.
“Neither has Han,” Leia said.
“Our evidence says otherwise.”
“Your evidence could have been planted. Given your callous disregard for the rules of the Senate, you might have shown the same disregard for the rules of law here on Coruscant.”
“You have no right to make that charge, Princess,” Meido said.
“Just as you had no right to reveal private documents from this meeting, Senator.” Leia ignored his use of her former title, even though he was doing so to remind others of the arrogance often displayed by aristocracy, although never by anyone from Alderaan.
“This arguing will get us nowhere,” Fey’lya said. “We have several issues on the table: the sabotage of the X-wings; the bombing; the no-confidence vote; and the indiscreet mouths of some Council members.” He turned his face toward the new members. “I move that if we have any new leaks, the new members be expelled.”
“I second,” Gno said.
“All right,” Leia said. “All in favor say yes.”
Every member of the Council, except for the three newcomers, chorused “Yes.”
“Opposed?” she asked sweetly.
Meido spoke his no softly, as did R’yet Coome and Wwebyls.
“The motion passes. Any more leaked information will result in your expulsion from this body. Is that understood?”
“Oh, it’s understood,” Meido said. “You blame everything on us, Princess, because we lived under your former enemies. Now all someone has to do is leak more information and we no longer belong to this body. How convenient for you. Just as those detonators with an Imperial stamp are convenient. How many other convenient ways are you going to find to undermine the changes in the Senate?”
“You’re being unfair,” C-Gosf said.
“Am I?” Meido’s white lines glared off his face. “I guess it really doesn’t matter, because by the next time this august body meets, the good princess will no longer be a member. She will be recalled, her leadership in ruins. It’s a small price to pay, Princess, for killing your colleagues.”
“I didn’t,” she said. She was shaking. She kept her hands under the table. “I can’t believe you’re accusing me of that.”
“And I can’t believe you think we’re simplistic enough to think that you can let go of your enmity toward your former enemies. How many Imperial soldiers did you kill on Endor, Princess? How many minor bureaucrats died when the Death