Leia drew back in her seat. The flash of emotion right then... 'You don't want Pellaeon's offer to be genuine, do you?' she asked. 'You
'Han has a copy of the Caamas Document,' Leia reminded him. 'He'll have it here tomorrow. That should defuse a lot of the tension.'
'I'm sure it will,' Gavrisom agreed. 'But at this point I'm not willing to rely on even that to stop them. You and I both know that for many of the potential combatants Caamas has merely become a convenient excuse for restarting old wars with old enemies.'
'I realize that,' Leia said. 'But once that excuse is taken away from them, they'll have to back down.'
'Or create a different excuse,' Gavrisom countered bitterly. 'The fact is, Leia, that the New Republic is in danger of fragmenting, of being driven apart by our own vast diversity. We need time to counter those forces; time to talk, time to plan, time to try to build all these different peoples into some sort of unity.'
He waved a wing toward the viewport. 'But we no longer have that time—this crisis has snatched it away from us. We need to get it back.'
'The Caamas Document will do that,' Leia insisted. 'I'm sure it will.'
'Perhaps,' Gavrisom said. 'But as President, I can't afford to put all my hopes on it. I must prepare to muster every common purpose I can find for the New Republic. Every common purpose, every common goal, every common cultural ethos.'
He tapped the datapad, gently this time. 'And, if necessary, every common enemy.'
'But they're not a real enemy anymore,' Leia said, striving to keep her voice calm. 'They're far too small and weak to be any kind of threat.'
'Perhaps,' Gavrisom said. 'But as long as they're out there, we have someone to unite against.' He hesitated. 'Or even to fight against, if necessary.'
'You aren't serious,' Leia said, gazing hard at him. 'Stirring up action against the Empire at this point would be nothing short of a slaughter.'
'I know that.' He shook his head. 'I don't like this any better than you do, Leia. In fact, I will admit to being ashamed of using the people of the Empire this way. But whether my name and memory are denounced by history is of no importance. My job is to hold the New Republic together, and I will do whatever is necessary to achieve that.'
'Perhaps I have more faith in our people than you do,' Leia said quietly.
'Perhaps you do,' Gavrisom said with a nod. 'I sincerely hope you are right.' For a moment they sat together in silence. 'I presume you won't be releasing news of Pellaeon's offer,' Leia said at last. 'With your permission, though, I'd like to begin putting together a list of delegates for a full peace conference. If and when you decide to proceed with this.' Gavrisom hesitated, then nodded. 'I admire your confidence, Councilor,' he said. 'I only wish I could share it. Yes, please assemble your list.'
'Thank you.'
She got up from her chair and retrieved her datapad. 'I'll have the list ready for you by tomorrow.' She turned to the stateroom door—
'There is, of course, one other option open to you,' Gavrisom called from behind her. 'You are merely on leave of absence from the Presidency. Assuming the Senate confirmed the decision, you could resume that office right now.'
'I know,' Leia said. 'But this isn't the time for that. Yours is the voice that has been speaking for Coruscant since the Caamas Document first came to light. It wouldn't be good for that voice to suddenly change.'
'Perhaps,' Gavrisom said. 'But there are many in the New Republic who believe that Calibops are skilled at words and nothing more. Perhaps the time for words has ended, and the time for action has arrived.'
Leia stretched out briefly to the Force. 'The time for action may indeed have come,' she agreed.
'But that doesn't mean the time for words is ended. Both will always be needed.' Gavrisom whinnied softly. 'Then I will continue with the words,' he said. 'And will entrust to you the actions. May the Force be with us both.'
'May the Force be with us all,' Leia said quietly. 'Good night, President Gavrisom.'
