Star Wars - Cloak Of Deception Read online

  his heart he judged the universe on his own terms, with a clear sense of right

  and wrong.

  He looked to no other guide than himself.

  Among the delegates who represented the worlds of the outlying systems,

  his reputation was particularly exalted, primarily because tiny Naboo was one

  of those worlds, all by itself at the edge of the Mid Rim, with Malastare--

  home to Gran and Dugs--itso only neighbor of significance. Like many of its

  neighbors, Naboo was ruled by an elected monarch - comand an unenlightened

  one, at that--but it was a peaceful world, unspoiled, rich in classic

  elements, and inhabited not only by humans, but also by a mostly aquatic

  indigenous species known as Gungans.

  When most of his peers had left public service at the accepted age of

  twenty, Palpatine had elected to remain a politician, and his tenure on

  Coruscant had provided him with singular insight into the afflictions that

  vexed the outlying star systems.

  It was while befriending a group of Bith delegates that he first learned

  of the Nebula Front, and later, it was a Bith who introduced him to some of

  the members who commanded the organization.

  By rights Palpatine should have had nothing to do with terrorists, but

  the founding members of the Nebula Front were neither fanatics nor anarchists.

  Many of their grievances with the Trade Federation, and Coruscant, were

  legitimate. More important, wherever the Federation was involved, it was

  difficult to remain impartial.

  Had Palpatine been one of the many senators receiving Trade Federation

  kickbacks, it would have been easy to look the other way, or to turn a deaf

  ear--as Valorum had put it. But as the representative of a world that depended

  on the Trade Federation for food and other imports, as Naboo did, it was

  impossible to dismiss what he had heard and seen.

  Eventually, the Bith had introduced him to the Front's newest leader,

  Havac.

  For previous meetings with Havac, Palpatine had selected out-of-the-way

  places in Coruscant's lawless lower levels. But the current crisis in the

  senate had necessitated that they exercise a greater measure of secrecy, so

  Palpatine had chosen a humans only club in Coruscant's midlevel--a place where

  patricians could gather for t'bac, brandy, games of dejarik, and quiet

  reading- - and where there were actually fewer prying eyes than lower down. He

  had taken the added precaution of informing Havac of the location at the last

  possible moment. As tactically minded as Havac was, he lacked the expertise to

  catch Palpatine with his guard lowered.

  "Valorum is audacious," Havac said angrily, as soon as they were seated

  at a table in the club's hardwood-paneled dining room. "He has the gall to

  announce a summit in the Outer Rim--on Eriadu, no less--without asking the

  Nebula Front to participate." "Unlike the Trade Federation," Palpatine said,

  "the Nebula Front does not enjoy representation in the senate." "Yes, but the

  Front has many friends on Eriadu, Senator." "Then all the better for you, I

  should think." Havac had come alone, as had Palpatine, though both Sate

  Pestage and Kinman Doriana were seated nearby. Palpatine had accepted from the

  start that "Havac" was an alias, and Pestage had subsequently confirmed the

  fact. Pestage had also learned that Havac was native to Eriadu, where his

  impassioned holo - documentaries had established him to a few as an enemy of

  the Trade Federation, a proponent of nonhuman rights, a malcontent and

  idealist. He wanted desperately to change the galaxy, but his visual tirades

  against injustice had largely gone unnoticed.

  He was a relative newcomer to the Nebula Front, but the Front's militant

  faction had recruited him to serve a special agenda.

  Exasperated by Senate indifference and the Trade Federation's continued

  violation of the trade agreements, the militants had decided to up the stakes

  from mere interference in Federation business to terrorism.

  Havac and the Front's new radicals were determined to hit the Trade

  Federation where the Neimoidians and the rest would feel it the most - comin

  their distended purses.

  Palpatine had encouraged Havac, without actually advocating violence.

  Rather, he had maintained that the surest way to effect lasting change was to

  work through the senate.

  "We're fed up with Valorum," Havac was saying. "He treads docilely when

  and wherever the Trade Federation is concerned. His threat to tax the trade

  routes is pure rhetoric. It's time that someone convince him that the Nebula

  Front can be a more dangerous foe than the Trade Federation." Palpatine made

  an offhand gesture, as if in dismissal. "It's true that the Supreme Chancellor

  has little understanding of the Nebula Front's objectives, but he is not your

  primary obstacle." Havac held Palpatine's heavy-lidded gaze.

  "We need a stronger chancellor. Someone who wasn't born into wealth."

  Palpatine gestured again. "Look elsewhere for your enemies. Look to the

  members of the Trade Federation Directorate." Havac mulled it over for a

  moment. "Perhaps you're right. Perhaps we do need to look elsewhere." He

  grinned faintly and lowered his voice to add, "We have made a powerful new

  ally, who has suggested several courses of action." "Indeed?" "It was he who

  provided the data we needed to destroy a Trade Federation freighter at

  Dorvalla." "The Federation has thousands of freighters," Palpatine said. "If

  you expect to be victorious by destroying their ships, you're deluding yourvs.

  You must get to the principals. Just as I have been doing in the senate." "Do

  we have any friends there?" "A meager few. Whereas the Trade Federation has

  the support of many important delegates--Toonbuck Toora, Tessek, Passel

  Argente... They are enriched for their loyalty." Havac shook his head in

  outrage. "It's pathetic that the Front needs to buy senatorial support, in the

  same deplorable fashion that it is compelled to employ mercenaries." "There is

  no other way," Palpatine said, with a purposeful sigh. "The courts are useless

  and biased. But corruption has its advantages when you can simply purchase the

  votes of unscrupulous delegates instead of having to convince them of the

  virtues of your position." Havac rested his elbows on the table and leaned

  forward. "We have the funds you asked for." Palpatine's eyebrows went up.

  "Already?" "Our benefactor told us that the Revenue--his "It's best if I don't

  know how you received them," Palpatine interrupted.

  Havac nodded in comprehension. "One possible problem. It's in the form of

  aurodium ingots." "Aurodium?" Palpatine sat back in his chair, steepling his

  fingers. "Yes, that could present a problem. I can't very well distribute

  ingots to those senators we hope to... impress." "Too easy to trace," Havac

  said.

  "Precisely. We'll have to have the aurodium converted to Republic

  dataries, even though that will require some time." Palpatine fell silent for

  a moment, then said, "May I suggest that one of my aides help you set up a

  special account with a bank on an outlying world that won't ask questions

  about the origin of the ingots. Once the aurodium i
s safely deposited there,

  you'll be able to transfer funds through the InterGalactic Bank, and draw

  against the account in the form of Republic credits." Havac clearly liked the

  idea. "I know you'll put the funds to the best possible use." "I'll do all

  within my power." Havac smiled in admiration. "You are the voice of the outer

  systems, Senator." "I am not a voice of the outer systems, Havac," Palpatine

  rejoined. "If you insist on awarding me an honorific, then consider me the

  voice of the Republic. You need to remember this, because if you begin to

  think in terms of inner systems against outer systems, star sectors against

  rims, there can be no unity. Instead of equality for all, we will end up with

  anarchy and secession." s tanding just outside of the Jedi Temple's east-

  facing gate, Qui-Gon gave thought to where he should wander.

  The day was warm and cloudless, except to the north, where microclimatic

  storms were swirling about the summits of some of Coruscant's taller

  buildings, and Qui-Gon had nothing to do.

  He set out walking into the sun , memories of his youth surfacing, as if

  images glimpsed in the riffling of a deck of sabacc cards. As ever, he saw

  himself inside the Temple, meditating, studying, training, making friends and

  losing some. He recalled a day he had stolen into one of the spires and had

  had his first real look at Coruscant's fantastic cityscape, and how from that

  moment forward he had yearned to explore the city-planet from bottom to top. A

  quest that would remain a dream until well into his teen years and, in fact,

  had yet to be completely fulfilled.

  On those rare occasions when students were permitted to leave the Temple,

  they moved about like groups of tourists, and always in the company of

  chaperons of one sort or another. Visits to the Galactic Senate, the Courts

  Building, the Municipal Authorities Building... But in those early

  explorations Qui - Gon saw enough to understand that Coruscant was not the fa4

  land he had first imagined it to be. The planet's climate was more or less

  regulated, its original topography had long ago been leveled or buried, and

  what nature there was existed indoors, where it could be tended to and

  controlled.

  Because it resided in all life, the Force was in some sense concentrated

  on Coruscant. But one felt the Force differently there than on worlds in their

  natural state, where the interconnectedness of all life created subtle shifts

  and rhythms. If on many worlds the Force was a gentle murmur, on Coruscant it

  was a howl--a white noise of sentience.

  Qui-Gon had nothing in mind beyond walking. The huge holomap in the High

  Council spire indicated hundreds of distant trouble spots and emergencies, but

  the Reconciliation Council hadn't gotten around to assigning him and Obi-Wan

  to any of them. He wondered if Yoda and some of the others were angry about

  his seeming obsession with Captain Cohl.

  To Qui-Gon's thinking, the council members were too willing to dismiss

  Cohl as nothing more than a symptom of trying times, when he was much more

  than that.

  But, then, the Council had a tendency to dwell on repercussions, on

  future events, rather than the present. Yoda, especially, was fond of saying

  that the future was always in motion, and yet he and Mace Windu sometimes

  acted as if that wasn't the case at all.

  Did they know of some great event looming on the horizon? Qui-Gon

  wondered. And would he fail to recognize that event, even were he to trip over

  it?

  He supposed he should at least remain open to the possibility that the

  High Council Masters knew something he didn't.

  The one thing he accepted as beyond dispute was that the Force was even

  more mysterious than any of the Jedi perceived it to be.

  He hadn't gone half a kilometer when Adi Gallia fell into step beside

  him, catching him by surprise.

  "In search of something purposeful, Qui-Gon, or just hoping you'll bump

  into something worthy of your attention?" He smiled at her. "I have--you." She

  laughed, then scolded him with a look.

  Adi's fingernails were polished, and the same blue cosmetic that rimmed

  her dark blue eyes traced the ligaments on the backs of her hands. She had

  been a permanent member of the High Council for over a decade, and a Jedi

  Master for much longer than that. Her parents were Corellian diplomats, but,

  like Qui - Gon, she had been raised in the Temple. Adi had always been

  enthralled by Coruscant, and knew the planet about as well as anyone. Over the

  years, she had forged a close friendship with Supreme Chancellor Valorum,

  along with several Core World delegates.

  "Where is your young apprentice?" she asked as they sauntered.

  "Sharpening his wits." "So you actually give him an occasional respite

  from your resolute tutelage," she teased.

  "It's a mutual thing," Qui-Gon said.

  She laughed again, then grew serious. "I have news that's bound to

  interest you. It seems that you might have been right about Cohl's surviving

  the explosion of that Trade Federation freighter." Qui-Gon came to a dead stop

  in the center of the sky bridge they were crossing. Droids and pedestrians

  ambled past him to both sides.

  "Has Cohl been seen?" Adi leaned on the bridge railing and gazed back

  toward the Temple. "Dorvalla Space Corps pursued a shuttle that matched the

  description and drive signature you and Obi-Wan furnished.

  The shuttle crashed and exploded onworld, apparently not far from where

  Cohl had established a temporary base." Qui-Gon nodded. "I know the area."

  "There wasn't much left to investigate at the crash site, but the remains of

  three humans found in the wreckage were identified as associates of Cohl. But

  here's the interesting part The shuttle was clearly attempting to rendezvous

  with Cohl's personal ship." "The Hawk-Bat." "It set down close to the crash

  site, then proceeded to blast its way off Dorvalla, taking out a number of

  Dorvalla's picket ships on the way." "Cohl made it to the ship," Qui-Gon said.

  "You're that certain?" "I am." Adi nodded. "One of the picket ship pilots

  reported that two or three of Cohl's band might have made it alive to the

  Hawk-bat." "Has there been any sign of the ship since?" "It jumped to

  hyperspace as soon as it left Dorvalla behind. But surveillance has been

  doubled at all of Cohl's known retreats. Assuming he did survive, he'll be

  spotted and, with luck, captured." "Adi, is there a chance that Obi-Wan and I

  could--was "Cohl is no longer our concern," she cut him off. "Supreme

  Chancellor Valorum is attempting to encourage the systems along the Rimma

  Trade Route to assume responsibility for curtailing acts of terrorism in their

  separate sectors. Intervention on our part would likely be viewed as indirect

  support of the Trade Federation." Qui-Gon frowned. "That's shortsighted.

  Most of the worlds along the Rimma support the Nebula Front to one degree

  or another.

  Recruits, funding, intelligence... The Rimma worlds supply these and

  more." Adi regarded him for a long moment. "Qui-Gon, suppose I could arrange

  for you to meet with Chancellor Valorum, so you could
apprise him of these

  matters personally?" Qui-Gon nodded. "All right." "Then it's settled. I'm on

  my way to meet with him now, and there's no time like the present." "I

  couldn't have put it better." In his chambers beneath the senate rotunda,

  Valorum reclined in his chair, exhaling wearily as he stretched his arms over

  his head. Finished with the morning's business, he now had to face those

  delegates who hadn't been able to secure appointments and were undoubtedly

  lingering outside his office, anxious for a moment of his time.

  "What's on the agenda for this afternoon?" he asked Sei Taria as she came

  through the office's tall, ornate door.

  The young human woman glanced at her wrist comm screen. "You have a

  meeting with Adi Gallia, then a follow-up meeting with Bail Antilles and Horox

  Ryyder. After that, you are meeting with the representatives of the Corporate

  Alliance and the trade delegation from Ord Mantell. Then--was "Enough,"

  Valorum said, holding up his hands and shutting his eyes. He gestured to the

  door and the corridors beyond. "How bad are things out there?" "As crowded as

  I've ever seen it, sir," she said.

  "But I'm afraid that that's not the half of it." Valorum stood up and

  reached for his cloak.

  "Tell me the rest." "The plaza is swarming with demonstrators. Some are

  calling for the breakup of the Trade Federation, others are denouncing your

  stand on taxation. Security recommends that we leave by way of the rooftop

  platforms." "No," Valorum said firmly. "This was to be expected, and now is

  hardly the time for me to avoid my critics." Sei smiled approvingly. "I told

  security you would say that. They said that if you insisted on exiting through

  the plaza, they would be tripling the guard." "Very well." Valorum squared his

  shoulders. "Are you ready?" Sei went to the door. "After you, sir." No sooner

  did Valorum enter the anteroom than two tall Senate Guards stepped in to flank

  him. They wore long dark - blue robes and gloves, and double-crested helmet

  cowls that left visible only the eyes and mouth. Over their right shoulders,

  the guards carried long, cumbersome rifles that were more ceremonial than

  practical.

  By the time Valorum had passed into the front offices, more guards had

  fallen in before and behind him.

  Short of the public corridors another pair joined the group, and yet two