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Tenel Ka, as usual, was stolid and alert, probably scanning the crowd for any signs of trouble.

Only Chief of State Leia Organa Solo seemed perfectly calm, as if the reactions of the senators and delegates were exactly what she had expected.

She looked around the room with a practiced ease, seeing everything, listening to everything, gauging the reactions of her audience.

Jaina bit her lower lip, willing herself to be more like her mother, ordering herself to listen to the squeaking Chadra Fan senator with an open mind.

"And so, it is not the people of the Diversity Alliance who should be censured. I suggest that these willful human children need to be taught true respect for legal governments," Senator Tru-bor concluded, triumphantly swiveling his triangular batlike ears.

Alarmed, Jaina looked over at her parents, or Luke Skywalker, hoping they would react to such accusations. But already it seemed too many humans had spoken out. Luke met Jaina's gaze, giving his silent support.

Without comment, her mother nodded and announced the name of the next speaker. "Senator J'mesk Iraan."

The small cherub-faced Tamran steepled his fingers at chest level and bowed slightly. J'mesk Iman's expressive brows rose as he spoke.

"Forgive me if I have misunderstood the situation, butreit is not the habit of the New Republic to meddle in the affairs of local governments, is it?"

"Nor Leia said slowly, "it isn't."

"Then perhaps this could all be viewed as a cultural misunderstanding."

J'mesk Iraan spread his hands in a traditional gesture his people used when offering peace. "From an objective point of view, what these young Jedi did might be described as well-intentioned but ill-advised.

There should be no need to consider it an outright act of espionage."

Jaina shifted uncomfortably at the ambassador's benign condemnation and waited to hear what else he might have to say.

"At worst, the venture may be described as a willful and unlawful act of aggressive intrusion against a legal sovereign government."

Jaina felt her brother flinch. She sensed rather than heard a growl forming deep in Lowie's throat; though the Wookiee restrained himself, she could see the black streak of fur over his eye bristling. Tenel Ka, on the other hand, listened with her usual stoicism, her thoughts impassive and unreadable, as if the Senate's mixed response was no surprise to her.

"Since the children's arrival was neither announced nor authorized--since it was, in fact, covert," Iman continued. "Both the Diversity Alliance and the government of Ryloth had ample reason to view it as an act of aggression."

"But we explained what we were doing there," Jacen objected. 'rhey were holding Lowie against his will. And they st'all threw us into their spice mines.

"

Iman fhxed them all with a serious look and cocked his head to one side.

When he answered, though, his voice was not unkind. "Yet had any of you requested their government's permission to enter its headquarters?"

"No," Jaina answered truthfully. "But we never intended any harm. We just wanted to get our friend back."

"Even so, since your mission was not a diplomatic one, and not sanctioned by any government, you placed yourselves under the jurisdiction of local laws by trespassing as you did. I do not believe even the New Republic could allow such an intrusion without punishing the perpetrators.

It is only natural that any government should want to deter others from doing what you had done."

Jaina bit her lower lip. She knew there was no way to refuse the ambassador's words.

"But what about the spice mines?" Raynar asked.

"Very well, then. How long did you spend in the spice mines?" Iman asked.

"A few days," Jaina answered. %Ve didn't have chronometers with us."

"A harsh punishment perhaps for high-born youngsters such as yourselves,"

the alien senator said, but not outside the realm of reason. Were you denied food or water or sleep?"

Jaina grimaced at the memory of the