Vision of the future

war vessel to be under direct New Republic command.'

'So it is treason from the New Republic Presidency as well?' Av'muru screamed, trying to push Gavrisom bodily out of his way. 'Move aside or die alongside her.'

'There is no treason involved,' Gavrisom said. His voice was still calm, but he hadn't budged a millimeter. 'Unless you bring such a charge upon yourself by refusing an official New Republic emergency requisition of your vessel as per Section 45-2 of the Treaties of Allegiance.' Abruptly Av'muru stopped pushing. 'You speak nonsense,' he said, screaming now at the top of his lungs. 'There has been no official requisition.'

'The Treaties are vague about how such a requisition is to be made,' Gavrisom said coolly.

'Deliberately so, for an emergency situation by its very nature requires flexibility.' He waved a wing toward Leia. 'In this case, the requisition began when High Councilor Organa Solo—'

'She is no longer a High Councilor, by her own statement!'

'When High Councilor Organa Solo,' Gavrisom repeated, emphasizing each word, 'began moving this vessel toward a perceived source of danger.'

Av'muru glared at Gavrisom, transferred the look to Leia, turned it back on Gavrisom again. 'You cannot seriously believe the Confederene will accept such a ludicrous claim,' he bellowed.

'What they will or will not accept is a matter for future discussion,' Gavrisom pointed out.

'Regretfully, the Diamalan jamming has eliminated any chance for you to communicate with your governments for counsel.'

He tossed his mane. 'It is your decision, Captain. You must base it on the requirements of the law, my position as New Republic President, and the word of a Jedi Knight that your ship is in deadly danger.'

Av'muru was trembling with emotion, his eyes flicking back and forth between Gavrisom, Leia, and the view out the canopy. Leia stole a glance out there herself, confirmed that the Predominance was indeed moving toward the comet.

'Helmsman?' Av'muru shouted.

'Here, my captain,' the other replied, stepping hesitantly forward.

'Resume your post,' Av'muru ordered, his voice starting to calm down. 'Continue on the course which the Jedi Knight Organa Solo has put us on.' He paused. 'And increase to flank speed.'

'Yes, my captain,' the helmsman said, brushing gingerly past Gavrisom as the Calibop moved aside. Leia stepped aside as well, and he sat warily down in his seat again. ' 'Course and speed as ordered, my captain.'

'Come, Councilor,' Gavrisom said, gesturing to Leia with one of his wing tips. 'Let us move back out of their way.'

Together, they retreated again behind the monitor ring. 'Thank you,' Leia said quietly.

'I was only doing my job,' Gavrisom said. 'I have often heard it said that Calibops are long on words and short on deeds.'

He ruffled his mane. 'Sometimes, though, it is the words that must come first.'

'Yes,' Leia murmured, gazing out the canopy at the comet. She could only hope that the deeds that followed would be in time.

* * *

'We have them both, Captain,' the starboard tractor beam officer called up to the command walkway. 'Two freighters: a YT-1300 and a Corellian Action II.'

'Very good,' Nalgol said, still seething over the unexpected and unannounced change in their carefully precise schedule. The strike team on the surface, he promised himself ominously, would have some serious explaining to do when this was all over.

But in the meantime, the Tyrannic was ready to do whatever needed to be done. And the first job on that list would be to take care of those spies out there. 'Bring them in closer, Lieutenant,' he called. 'Make sure they don't break away.'

'They won't, sir,' the tractor officer promised.