Chapter VII

His hand was definitely itching for his blaster now as Han eyed Vhaldoq D'ukal suspiciously. The man had just admitted to being involved with the alien race that had overwhelmed the galaxy for the past five years. And yet, not all the things he'd said would fit his own description of matters. "Perhaps you should explain that," Solo told his former commandant.

"I encountered an individual you may be familiar with a short time before my own return," the Grand Admiral said, "He was interested in learning if cloning technology was still widely used in the galaxy and thus attracted my attention. I presented him with proof of the effectiveness of the method, and he responded by eliminating the clone I made. Perhaps it would have been wiser to ask before I created a duplicate of him. In the meantime, I had discovered several unusual facts regarding his species and that he wasn't all that he purported to me. I realized that he must represent a larger force and recalled legends of the aliens who'd struck Zonama Sekot. My investigation turned up intriguing details that led me to believe these creatures would soon be coming in force. I then launched an effort to locate another potent danger to the galaxy and deal with it on a more permanent basis."

"What might that be?" Leia asked. "For thousands of years, powerful forces have clashed on a titanic scale and have often been the driving factor behind the unrest of the galaxy. I speak of the Jedi and the Sith, of course," Vhaldoq said. "So how does that fit in with your creation of clones for the Yuuzhan Vong?" Han asked bluntly. "I had produced quite a number by the time you reached Monark," D'ukal said, "Most of the subjects were there for show, to make it seem like I was ready to launch a major assault. In point of fact, my fleet was limited to the ships you saw in action."

"And yet you were able to secure other powerful vessels to aid your schemes," Leia reminded him. "I hoped to direct the Sith Lord I had located into carrying out my will for me, doing work that I could not personally handle," the Grand Admiral said, "He would have his own goals and petty desires for vengeance, of course; but I hoped he could see the need to do as I asked. Unfortunately, his encounter on Coruscant led him into direct opposition to me in the end as he carried out his plot against the Jedi." "That still doesn't explain collaborating with the Yuuzhan Vong," Han reminded him.

"They were not the enemies of the galaxy at that time, nor did I know the name by which they called themselves," Vhaldoq said, "I returned my creations to serve their masters and they found themselves ostracized for no reason they could understand. They formed the basis of the disaffected lot that came to regard the Jedi as saviors from their sorry state." "The Shamed Ones," Leia said in understanding, "Some of them followed Nom Anor." "Indeed, and he was incidentally the very one who I had produced the clone for to begin with," D'ukal said.

"You cloned that monster?" Han said, remembering all the wrongs committed by the self-serving alien and the way he'd torn their son from them and even founded the group which had tried to assist the Yuuzhan Vong in their takeover. "That was long before he was so notorious," the Grand Admiral said, "In your effort to destroy my facility on Monark you inadvertently released one of his doppelgangers. I have reason to believe that he remained hidden during the war and has only now reappeared to exert influence upon those that have not gone along with their leaders' direction."

"So how does that involve us?" Leia said. "I've uncovered rumors of suspicious activity, an attempt to revitalize the war machine that drove the Yuuzhan Vong and pit them against galactic civilization again. I wish to prevent such a catastrophe and I would like your assistance in doing so." "If the situation is this dire, we'll need to gather more evidence before the proper authorities will listen to us," Han said, "I've got contacts in the Smuggler's Alliance that can help with that."

"One of the reasons I invited you and your wife here," Vhaldoq said, "However, I will need a diplomat's skill to help cut thru the layers of bureaucratic nonsense that lay between me and the truth. I would appreciate it if Princess Leia would accompany me." While he hated to have his wife left behind with this unpredictable stranger, Solo couldn't think of another alternative. The Grand Admiral had effectively backed them into a corner with no other way out and he knew it. "All right," Han said, "The sooner we get started, the faster this will be over and done with."