Vision of the future

Han snorted, but even as he did Leia could sense a lightening of his mood. 'Yeah,' he said. 'We'll see.'

* * *

'Carib?'

With a wince of tired knees Carib Devist got up from where he'd been crouching, careful not to bump into either of the two rows of tallgrain pressing close around him. 'I'm over here, Sabmin,' he called, waving his coring tool as high over the stalks as he could reach.

'I see you,' Sabmin called back. There was the crackle of brittle leaves being brushed against; and then Sabmin emerged through a gap in the row. 'I had to come right—' He broke off, frowning at the tool in Carib's hand. 'Uh- oh.'

'Save the uh-ohs for polite company,' Carib said sourly. 'Just say shavit and mean it.' Sabmin hissed softly between his teeth. 'How many colonies?' he asked.

'So far, just the one,' Carib said, waving the corer toward the tailgrain stalk he'd been digging into. 'And I did find an empress, so it's possible I got the whole infestation. But I wouldn't bet money on it.'

'I'll alert the others,' Sabmin said. 'Probably should get word to the tri-valley coordinator, too, in case this isn't the only valley the bugs are moving into.'

'Yeah.' Carib eyed his brother. 'And what wonderful news have you brought me?' Sabmin's lips compressed. 'We just got confirmation from Bastion,' he said quietly. 'New Republic High Councilor Leia Organa Solo is definitely over on Pakrik Major. And the attack on her is definitely on.'

Reflexively, Carib glanced up at the half-lit planet hanging in the sky overhead. 'They must be crazy,' he said. 'Attack a New Republic High Councilor, just like that?'

'I don't think they really cared who they got to attack, so long as it was a New Republic official,' Sabmin said. 'Apparently, the Grandiose Elector sent out a blanket invitation to Coruscant asking for a representative. My guess is that the request was prodded by some Imperial plant, with an eye to the fact that we were already in place here and could act as backup. It was just luck that Gavrisom decided to send Organa Solo.'

'Yeah,' Carib said darkly. 'Luck. Did this come over Grand Admiral Thrawn's personal authorization?'

'I don't know,' Sabmin said. 'The notice didn't say. But it has to have come from him, doesn't it?

I mean, if he's in command, then he's in command.'

'I suppose so,' Carib conceded reluctantly. So there it was. The war was about to be brought suddenly and violently to the Pakrik system. Right to their doorstep... and the long wait was over. The quiet existence of Imperial Sleeper Cell Jenth-44 was about to come to an end. 'You say we're the backup. Who's the primary?'

'I don't know,' Sabmin said. 'Some tag team in from Bastion for the occasion, I'd guess.'

'And when is it supposed to happen?'

'Tomorrow,' Sabmin said. 'Organa Solo and her husband are supposed to be coming over here to Minor once the conference breaks up.'

'And there's no indication whether the attack is real or just supposed to look real?' Sabmin gave him a startled look, an expression that quickly turned knowing and thoughtful.

'Interesting point,' he said. 'With Thrawn involved you can't take anything for granted, can you? No, all I know is that there's an attack coming and that we're supposed to stand ready in case Solo's better or luckier than expected.'

Carib grimaced. 'I suppose even Solo's luck has to run out sooner or later.'

'Yeah.' Sabmin eyed him suspiciously. 'What are you thinking?' Carib looked up at the sky again. 'I'm thinking we have to play this by ear,' he said quietly. 'One thing's for sure, though: if the battle comes anywhere near our valley, no matter who's winning, we're definitely not going to just sit by and watch. We've invested too much here to let it go without a fight.' Sabmin nodded. 'Understood,' he said soberly. 'I'll pass the word to the others. Whatever happens tomorrow, we'll be ready.'

* * *

Ahead, through the alien greenery, a stand of gnarled trees brushed past the screen to Pellaeon's left, and the AT- AT simulator bucked to the right in response. 'Watch those trees, Admiral,' Major Raines's voice warned in his helmet headphone. 'You probably won't knock yourself over that way, but I've seen walkers get hung up so bad you