Chapter 3
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Looking around at the assembled leaders, Captain Tynan, head of Ambassador Ledell's security and assistant head of the Nubian Royal security, realized that the Ambassador and Queen Jerica had indeed chosen their allies wisely. The gathered politicians, military officers, and Jedi were in a conference room in the ancient temple that served as the Jedi Academy on Yavin 4. All of the delegates were seated at a round table, and were currently discussing the different aspects of the upcoming mission. The captain stood silently behind his young charge, content to let the Nubian diplomat talk while he listened and observed.
"If any of you have any doubts of the importance of this mission," Currently, Wedge Antilles was speaking. The other New Republic leaders gave Antilles their full attention when he spoke. He, like Ledell, was one of those people who inspired respect and admiration by simply existing. "I'll have to remind you of Grand Admiral Thrawn and what he was capable of. If he was a typical specimen of Chiss intelligence, then they have the potential to be either powerful allies, or devastating enemies."
The general paused then added with wry quirk in his lips, "Personally, I would much prefer that the Chiss were on my side, instead of focusing their talents on blasting me to space dust."
Tynan looked at the other beings present. Luke Skywalker sat with his wife, Mara Jade Skywalker, to his right, and his sister, Leia Organna Solo, to his left. To Leia's left sat her husband, Han Solo. The others present were Admiral Ackbar, the Jedi teacher Tionne, and Ambassador Ledell, who was flanked by Tynan and two of her handmaidens.
He knew that the Noghri bodyguards of the former princess of Aldaraan were probably present as well, but would remain unnoticed unless the daughter of Vader were to be threatened, in which case they would quickly take care of any would be assassin.
In the silence after the general's comments, Ambassador Ledell caught the eye of her security chief. He understood the unspoken command, and broke the silence that had settled over the group.
"I don't think we can risk letting the Remnant remain the only allies the Chiss have," he said. "That makes them dangerous to whoever the Empire decides to hate."
"Whether that be the New Republic," said Mara with eyes narrowed to slits, "Or the queen of Naboo?"
Tynan could see her suspicion and realized that if he didn't tread carefully, she might see something that the queen wouldn't want her to. As far as Mara knew, there was no reason for the Nubians to fear the Empire. Naboo was generally ignored the last time the Empire was in control, and there was no obvious reason for the queen to fear for Naboo's fate should the Empire conquer the New Republic. Unless, of course, Naboo's queen had somehow earned the animosity of the Imperial Remnant, and how else would they accomplish that but by betraying them? Which would imply that Queen Jerica had no qualms against changing sides to suit her own purposes.
"Whether it be the Empire's old enemies," agreed Ambassador Ledell, in a calm yet firm voice, "Or the refuge of the defectors whose knowledge could provide the Empire with yet another super weapon."
Captain Tynan looked at the young woman nervously. He hoped that she had good reasons for revealing that particular piece of information. Looking at the New Republic leaders, he saw that she had, as usual, measured out just the right amount of information to get their attention. Now they would go to their beds thinking not only of the importance of an alliance with the Chiss, but of how important an ally Naboo could prove to be.
Master Skywalker exchanged looks with his sister. "You've provided refuge for Imperial defectors?" he asked with raised eyebrows.
Ledell nodded regally. Han Solo began to say something, but was cut of by Tynan.
"Now is not the time to discuss such things." Tynan said. "The mission into Chiss and Imperial space must be completed before other things can be given the amount of attention required."
Surprisingly, it was Admiral Ackbar who agreed with the Nubian security officer. "Captain Tynan is correct." Like Antilles and Ledell, Ackbar was given everyone's full attention. No one present was unaware of his role in the rebellion, or of his skill as a leader and strategist.
"Well then," Now it was Han Solo who spoke, "I guess that all we need to worry about is who's going where, and how many."
The admiral nodded at Han before looking at Luke. "Master Skywalker," He rasped, and took a drink of water. "Our plan relies heavily on your Jedi, but I have heard that not many of your trainees will be available in time for this mission."
Wedge shifted in his chair and looked at Luke. "We've discussed that and we think that we've found a suitable alternative."
He hesitated and looked again at Luke, who continued for him. "My niece and nephew and their friends are here at the academy and would be available for the mission."
Ackbar seemed surprised and Tionne worried. "Are you sure that's a wise decision?" she asked. "They aren't fully trained Jedi Knights yet."
"They have proven that they are capable of dealing with extreme situations. Situations where much was at stake, from the New Republic, to hundreds, even thousands, of businesses." Luke commented.
"And you would allow this?" Ackbar said in surprise, turning to Leia and Han. "You would allow your own children to go on a mission that could prove to be potentionally dangerous?"
The two looked at each other and Leia said, "We've already discussed it, and we realize that it's the only way that this mission will be successful. There are no other Jedi to go, and Jedi are vital to the plan."
Mara scowled, "Well, if everyone's sure." her voice trailed off.
Ackbar turned to Ledell. "What is your opinion, Ambassador?" he asked her.
"I have not heard any reason why the young Jedi should not come." She said, meeting the large eyes of the admiral from Mon Calamari with calm assurance. "I believe it would be to our advantage if the Chiss and the Imperials were to underestimate them because of their age."
"So," she continued, "All we need to decide is who, and how many, will go where."
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How was it?
_______________________
Looking around at the assembled leaders, Captain Tynan, head of Ambassador Ledell's security and assistant head of the Nubian Royal security, realized that the Ambassador and Queen Jerica had indeed chosen their allies wisely. The gathered politicians, military officers, and Jedi were in a conference room in the ancient temple that served as the Jedi Academy on Yavin 4. All of the delegates were seated at a round table, and were currently discussing the different aspects of the upcoming mission. The captain stood silently behind his young charge, content to let the Nubian diplomat talk while he listened and observed.
"If any of you have any doubts of the importance of this mission," Currently, Wedge Antilles was speaking. The other New Republic leaders gave Antilles their full attention when he spoke. He, like Ledell, was one of those people who inspired respect and admiration by simply existing. "I'll have to remind you of Grand Admiral Thrawn and what he was capable of. If he was a typical specimen of Chiss intelligence, then they have the potential to be either powerful allies, or devastating enemies."
The general paused then added with wry quirk in his lips, "Personally, I would much prefer that the Chiss were on my side, instead of focusing their talents on blasting me to space dust."
Tynan looked at the other beings present. Luke Skywalker sat with his wife, Mara Jade Skywalker, to his right, and his sister, Leia Organna Solo, to his left. To Leia's left sat her husband, Han Solo. The others present were Admiral Ackbar, the Jedi teacher Tionne, and Ambassador Ledell, who was flanked by Tynan and two of her handmaidens.
He knew that the Noghri bodyguards of the former princess of Aldaraan were probably present as well, but would remain unnoticed unless the daughter of Vader were to be threatened, in which case they would quickly take care of any would be assassin.
In the silence after the general's comments, Ambassador Ledell caught the eye of her security chief. He understood the unspoken command, and broke the silence that had settled over the group.
"I don't think we can risk letting the Remnant remain the only allies the Chiss have," he said. "That makes them dangerous to whoever the Empire decides to hate."
"Whether that be the New Republic," said Mara with eyes narrowed to slits, "Or the queen of Naboo?"
Tynan could see her suspicion and realized that if he didn't tread carefully, she might see something that the queen wouldn't want her to. As far as Mara knew, there was no reason for the Nubians to fear the Empire. Naboo was generally ignored the last time the Empire was in control, and there was no obvious reason for the queen to fear for Naboo's fate should the Empire conquer the New Republic. Unless, of course, Naboo's queen had somehow earned the animosity of the Imperial Remnant, and how else would they accomplish that but by betraying them? Which would imply that Queen Jerica had no qualms against changing sides to suit her own purposes.
"Whether it be the Empire's old enemies," agreed Ambassador Ledell, in a calm yet firm voice, "Or the refuge of the defectors whose knowledge could provide the Empire with yet another super weapon."
Captain Tynan looked at the young woman nervously. He hoped that she had good reasons for revealing that particular piece of information. Looking at the New Republic leaders, he saw that she had, as usual, measured out just the right amount of information to get their attention. Now they would go to their beds thinking not only of the importance of an alliance with the Chiss, but of how important an ally Naboo could prove to be.
Master Skywalker exchanged looks with his sister. "You've provided refuge for Imperial defectors?" he asked with raised eyebrows.
Ledell nodded regally. Han Solo began to say something, but was cut of by Tynan.
"Now is not the time to discuss such things." Tynan said. "The mission into Chiss and Imperial space must be completed before other things can be given the amount of attention required."
Surprisingly, it was Admiral Ackbar who agreed with the Nubian security officer. "Captain Tynan is correct." Like Antilles and Ledell, Ackbar was given everyone's full attention. No one present was unaware of his role in the rebellion, or of his skill as a leader and strategist.
"Well then," Now it was Han Solo who spoke, "I guess that all we need to worry about is who's going where, and how many."
The admiral nodded at Han before looking at Luke. "Master Skywalker," He rasped, and took a drink of water. "Our plan relies heavily on your Jedi, but I have heard that not many of your trainees will be available in time for this mission."
Wedge shifted in his chair and looked at Luke. "We've discussed that and we think that we've found a suitable alternative."
He hesitated and looked again at Luke, who continued for him. "My niece and nephew and their friends are here at the academy and would be available for the mission."
Ackbar seemed surprised and Tionne worried. "Are you sure that's a wise decision?" she asked. "They aren't fully trained Jedi Knights yet."
"They have proven that they are capable of dealing with extreme situations. Situations where much was at stake, from the New Republic, to hundreds, even thousands, of businesses." Luke commented.
"And you would allow this?" Ackbar said in surprise, turning to Leia and Han. "You would allow your own children to go on a mission that could prove to be potentionally dangerous?"
The two looked at each other and Leia said, "We've already discussed it, and we realize that it's the only way that this mission will be successful. There are no other Jedi to go, and Jedi are vital to the plan."
Mara scowled, "Well, if everyone's sure." her voice trailed off.
Ackbar turned to Ledell. "What is your opinion, Ambassador?" he asked her.
"I have not heard any reason why the young Jedi should not come." She said, meeting the large eyes of the admiral from Mon Calamari with calm assurance. "I believe it would be to our advantage if the Chiss and the Imperials were to underestimate them because of their age."
"So," she continued, "All we need to decide is who, and how many, will go where."
_______________________
How was it?