Star Wars - Cloak Of Deception Read online

  can't allow you to interfere." Adi bowed her head. "We will honor your wishes,

  Supreme Chancellor." The three Jedi turned and exited the room.

  No sooner did the door close behind them than Qui-Gon said, "We must go

  directly to the site of the summit and see what we can learn." If the attack

  on Valorum didn't make him the focus of this summit, Asmeru certainly did,"

  Senator Bor Gracus of Sluis Van was telling Palpatine as they moved in step

  with the slow flow of other delegates toward Eriadu Spaceport's immigration

  scanners.

  Human or alien, almost everyone was draped in robes and capes of the

  finest cloth, including Palpatine and his temporary companion in the snaking

  line, who were dressed alike in richly adorned cloaks with roomy sleeves and

  high double collars.

  Sate Pestage and Kinman Doriana, also dressed alike in black cloaks,

  followed closely behind Palpatine.

  "Gossip to which I've been privy suggests many of the Core and Inner Rim

  delegates are whispering that the Supreme Chancellor's actions at Asmeru were

  a bald attempt to curry favor with the Trade Federation." Gracus was a stout

  human with protruding eyes and a putty nose. His homeworld boasted a small but

  flourishing shipyard.

  As with other worlds along and in close proximity to the Rimma Trade

  Route, Sluis Van viewed its future import as preordained.

  "Gossip is valuable only if it is accurate, Senator," Palpatine said

  after a moment.

  "Supreme Chancellor Valorum is scarcely an advocate of unfair trade

  policies." "Unfair, you say? I didn't hear you stand up and cheer when Valorum

  made his speech championing the advantages of taxation of the free trade

  zones." "That doesn't mean that I think otherwise," Palpatine said in a

  composed voice. "But, like you, my station compels me to echo the voice of

  those I represent, and, at present, Naboo remains undecided." Gracus gave him

  a sidelong glance. "King Veruna is undecided, you mean to say." "His troubles

  are on the rise, to be sure. Our regent is too enmeshed in scandal to give

  much thought to what lies ahead for Naboo. He forgets that our world relies on

  the Trade Federation for much of its industrial imports, in addition to some

  of its food.

  Naboo risks as much, if not more than any other outlying system in

  actively opposing the Trade Federation. It was only after much discussion and

  debate that I convinced King Veruna of the importance of my attending this

  summit." "You are most judicious, Senator," Gracus said, in a way that mixed

  mild annoyance with admiration. "You answer my question without actually

  answering it. You prop Valorum, and yet you don't." When it was evident that

  Palpatine wasn't going to reply, Gracus added, "It is my understanding that

  you briefed the Supreme Chancellor on the subject of dispatching an armed

  force to Asmeru." "A diplomatic delegation," Palpatine amended.

  "Call it what you will, you can't change what happened there.

  And you can't deny that what happened there doesn't smell more of might

  than right." Palpatine gestured in dismissal. "The details of the incident are

  sketchy at best, Senator.

  What's more, you are ignoring the fact that, by trying to kill the

  Supreme Chancellor, the Nebula Front made themselves Republic business." "So

  Valorum claims," Gracus demurred.

  "The delegation came under almost immediate attack, and responded

  accordingly," Palpatine said.

  Gracus sniffed in derision. "The professed justification. Valorum used

  the incident to launch a preemptive strike, eliminating the Nebula Front's

  ability to disrupt the summit, and at the same time inveigling the Trade

  Federation into accepting taxation.

  "And I suspect that he had other reasons, as well. Everyone anticipated

  the Senex Houses to protest the violation of their territory, but they have

  been very silent thus far. It wouldn't surprise me to learn that a deal has

  been struck between Valorum and House Vandron. Should House Vandron agree not

  to protest what happened at Asmeru, the senate--or at least Valorum- - will

  agree to overlook House Vandron's continuing Rights of Sentience violations

  and lift the restrictions that have made it impossible for the Senex to trade

  with Republic worlds." "Whether slavery or spice smuggling, the Core Worlds

  take little interest in the injustices that plague the Outer Rim," Palpatine

  said in a world-weary voice. "Violations notwithstanding, the Republic would

  gladly trade with the Senex, if the Senex had something of value to offer. If

  that wasn't the case, the Trade Federation would have been disbanded long ago.

  But, in fact, the Neimoidians and the rest have set themselves up as

  irreplaceable, because of what they transport to the Core." Gracus appeared

  flustered. "Nevertheless," he sputtered, "the Outer Rim worlds are now in

  turmoil. Even those who don't openly support the Nebula Front are decrying the

  fact that the Republic took it upon itself to intercede at Asmeru." Palpatine

  summoned an ambiguous smile.

  "I'm certain that the Supreme Chancellor will ease everyone's concerns

  when he addresses the delegates." "And we'll all be eager to hear what he has

  to say," Gracus replied contemptuously, "since with one hand he seeks to

  punish the Trade Federation with taxation, while with the other he strokes

  them by eradicating the Federation's most dangerous antagonist." Palpatine's

  seeming good humor didn't falter.

  "One must make adjustments as necessary. Despite assiduous planning, not

  everything can be foreseen." A faraway look came into his eyes. "The landscape

  we inhabit is an everchanging one, Senator. One moment we are in the light;

  the next we are in the dark, left to find our own way through.

  If events could truly be divined--if one were to be granted such awesome

  power--then perhaps the future could be directed along one line or another.

  But until then, we stumble through, groping blindly for the truth." Gracus

  snorted. "Perhaps you should consider placing your name in nomination for high

  office, Senator." Palpatine brushed the remark aside. "I'm content to play my

  small part behind the scenes." "For the moment, I suspect," Gracus said, as

  Palpatine hurried ahead of him in the line.

  bar Nute Gunray's red eyes meandered over the line of delegates waiting

  to be scanned by Eriadu's primitive scanning devices. His gaze fell on two

  human senators--one rotund and plebeian; the other, straight-backed and

  refined--engaged in what appeared to be a spirited exchange. He looked down

  from his mechno - chair at Senator Lott Dod.

  "Who is the human in the blue cloak--there, speaking with the pudgy one?"

  Dod followed the viceroy's raised forefinger.

  "Senator Palpatine of Naboo." "A friend of ours?" Dod shook his head

  dubiously. "He gives all indication of holding to a middle course, Viceroy.

  Although I heard that he encouraged Valorum to send judicials to the

  Senex sector." "A potential friend, then," Gunray said.

  "Soon enough, we will know where everyone stands." Behind them, squatting

  on the duracrete, was the shuttle that had carried them to the surface, an


  organic-lookin g ship, with a quartet of clawed and segmented landing gear, a

  pair of generator vents that resembled eyespots, and a rear deflector shield

  assembly that rose from the ship's flat body like a raised tail.

  Gunray and Dod wore robes, mantles, and headdresses- - crimson and

  cordovan for the viceroy; deep purple and lavender for the senator.

  Fore and aft and to both sides of them marched security droids, their

  blaster rifles mounted behind their right shoulders. The droids constituted

  the Neimoidians' reply to Eriadu's offer to provide protection. In addition,

  the Trade Federation Directorate had insisted that a small shield generator be

  installed in that section of the summit hall assigned to them.

  A mere glance at the protestors who stood five-deep along the perimeter

  of the spaceport facilities told Gunray that the members of the directorate

  had made a prudent decision- - despite the ridicule to which they had been

  subjected by their peers in the Galactic Senate.

  The directorate's other six, shielded by Eriadu security agents, led the

  Trade Federation cortege as they neared the terminal. At the head of the line

  walked the Federation's four human directors - comtwo from Kuat, one from

  Balmorra, and the other from Filve. And behind them came the directorate's

  Gran and Sullustan members, all wearing costly tunics and caplets, though a

  far cry from the extravagant ones affected by Gunray and Dod.

  "Can we take this Asmeru business as a sign that Valorum is secretly in

  our camp?" the Sullustan was asking the Gran.

  "Not unless Valorum surprises everyone here by withdrawing his taxation

  proposal," the Gran replied.

  "My attorneys assure me that the Republic has no legal right to tax the

  free trade zones," Gunray said in Basic, from atop his ambulatory throne.

  One of the humans from Kuat looked over his shoulder at the Neimoidian

  and laughed. "The Republic will do as it wishes, Viceroy. You're a fool to

  believe otherwise. Valorum is as much our adversary as ever." Gunray suffered

  the humiliation in silence. What, he wondered, would the Kuati have made of

  Darth Sidious's assertion that Valorum was the Trade Federation's strongest

  ally in the senate? Would the Kuati have been so quick to taunt and scoff?

  Gunray doubted it.

  The arrogant human and the others knew nothing of the covert deal Gunray

  had struck with the Sith Lord.

  They viewed the Neimoidians' continuing purchases of upgraded droid

  weaponry as wasteful, and symptomatic of the Neimoidians' increasing sense of

  paranoia. But they rarely contested the expenditures, since the weapons

  afforded the fleet an added measure of protection. Similarly, they knew

  nothing of Sidious's plan for the Trade Federation to extend its reach beyond

  the outlying systems to the galactic rim itself.

  And yet, Gunray was anxious.

  The Sith Lord had communicated with him only once since arranging the

  meeting between the Neimoidians and the Baktoid and Haor Chall arms merchants.

  The communication had been brief and one-sided, with Sidious stressing the

  importance of Gunray's attending the trade summit, and assuring him, as ever,

  that everything was going according to plan.

  "The way to defeat Valorum," the other Kuati was saying, "is to persuade

  our signatory members that they gain nothing by decamping and seeking

  individual representation in the senate." "Even if that requires offering them

  lucrative trade incentives," the Sullustan added.

  "But our profits," Gunray blurted, despite his best efforts to control

  himself.

  "The Republic taxes will have to be absorbed by the outlying systems,"

  the directorate officer from Balmorra said. "There is simply no other way."

  "And if the taxes are too exorbitant for the outlying systems to absorb?" the

  Gran asked.

  "Our share of the market will be lost. This could very well cripple us."

  This time Gunray managed to stifle himself.

  It is all a charade, Sidious had said.

  Taxation is but a minor obstacle in our path to greater glory. Allow your

  counterparts in the directorate to say and do as they wish. But refrain from

  offering any response--especially at the summit itself.

  Our path, Gunray thought.

  But had he entered into a true partnership, or one in which Sidious would

  emerge as the Neimoidians' overlord? How long could a Sith Lord content

  himself with mere economic power? And what was likely to become of Viceroy

  Nute Gunray once Darth Sidious set his sights on a target more worthy of his

  dark expertise?

  Already Deputy Viceroy Hath Monchar and Commander Dofine had aired their

  separate misgivings about the alliance- - scarcely realizing that the

  partnership had as much been forced on Gunray as offered to him.

  The Sith Lord had promised that he would communicate with Gunray once

  more before the summit began. Perhaps, the viceroy hoped, all would then be

  revealed.

  Havac and his cohort returned to the main room of the customs warehouse,

  and the distant rumble of spacecraft launches. The five mercenaries Cohl had

  assembled were sitting on the edges of the repulsorsleds that had borne them

  to the warehouse.

  From the jittery way Havac moved, Lope knew that something unexpected had

  taken place. He jumped off the hovering sled to gaze down the corridor that

  led to the rear of the building.

  "Where's Captain Cohl?" he asked Havac.

  Above the scarf that swathed his face, Havac's eyes narrowed as he swung

  to face him. "Cohl went out the back way. But he sends his luck." Before

  anyone else could raise questions, he asked Lope, "What's your preferred

  weapon?" Lope took a second look down the corridor, then returned to the

  sleds. "Blades--of any length." Havac turned to one of the other humans.

  "Yours?" he asked, in an increasingly confident voice.

  "Sniper rifles." Havac glanced at the Gotal.

  "I'm not a shooter. I'm a lookout." Havac studied the remaining pair of

  humans--a brutish - looking man and an equally rough-cut woman.

  "No preferences," the man grunted.

  "The same," the woman said.

  Havac took a portable holoprojector from his pocket and set it atop an

  alloy cargo crate. Everyone gathered round as an image of a Classic-era

  building with a domed roof took shape in the cone of light.

  "The site of the trade summit," Havac said, as the image began to rotate,

  showing tall, slender towers at each corner, and four principal entrances.

  "The main hall is a rotunda, similar in design to the Galactic Senate, but on

  a much smaller scale and without the detachable balconies." Havac called up a

  panoramic view of the interior.

  "True to their exaggerated sense of self-importance, the Eriadu

  delegation has placed itself at the center of the hall. The Coruscant

  delegation will occupy east-side tiers of seats--here- - with the members of

  the Trade Federation Directorate in west - side tiers. Delegations

  representing the Core Worlds, the Inner Rim, and the outlying systems will be

  dispersed throughout the rest of the hall.

  "In the event of trouble, the Trade Federatio
n Directorate will be able

  to activate a force field. But Valorum's delegation is deliberately

  unshielded, as a show of good faith." The sniper scrutinized the image for a

  moment.

  "Valorum is going to be a difficult target--even from the highest tier in

  the rotunda." "You'll be higher than that," Havac said. "The upper por-tion of

  the hall is a maze of maintenance walkways and gantries, along with booths

  designated for media personnel." "We'd have a better chance of hitting Valorum

  before he enters the building," Lope said.

  "Perhaps," Havac conceded. "But the plan hinges on our ability to

  infiltrate the summit and do the job there." "Four entrances," the sniper

  said. "Which one is Valorum coming through?" Havac shook his head. "Unknown.

  The route to the summit hall won't be revealed until the last possible

  instant, and we don't have anyone close enough to him to provide us with that

  data. That's why we need a spotter team on the outside." Havac conjured

  another image from the holoprojector, showing the older quarter of the city,

  where the summits of innumerable buildings merged into an extensive range of

  rounded rooftops and elegant towers.

  "Eriadu security is trying to keep the rooftops clear, but there aren't

  enough repulsorlift vehicles to provide steady surveillance, especially in

  areas like this, where the roofs are all interconnected.

  Instead, security is flying sweeps at regular intervals, concentrating

  their efforts on the buildings adjacent to the summit hall." Havac indicated

  one of the domed rooftops. "From here, there's a decent view of the four

  boulevards that lead to the summit hall's separate entrances. The spotters--

  was He pointed to Lope, the Gotal, and the woman. his-comw have just enough

  time to position yourvs on the roof between air sweeps. Access to the roof is

  through a safe house we maintain on Eriadu. The safe house will also serve as

  our rendezvous point after we're finished, or should something unforeseen

  occur beforehand. Valorum's hovercade will be easy to spot. As soon as you've

  ascertained the route, you'll communicate that information to the rest of us."

  "Where will you be?" Lope demanded to know.

  Havac turned to him. "The shooters will already be inside the hall, up in

  the walkways." "That'll be the first place security will look," the sniper