'Let me be frank about that. My position as representative of an outlying sector places me in an awkward situation. Make no mistake about it, Supreme Chancellor, I stand with you in advocating central control and taxation. But Naboo and other outlying systems will undoubtedly be forced to assume the burden of taxation by paying more for Trade Federation services.' He paused briefly. 'I would be compelled to act with utmost circumspection.' Valorum merely nodded.
'That much said,' Palpatine was quick to add, 'rest assured that I would do all in my power to rally senate support for taxation.' Valorum turned slightly in Palpatine's direction and smiled lightly. 'As always, I'm grateful for your counsel, Senator. Particularly now, what with troubles erupting in your home system.' Palpatine sighed with purpose. 'Sadly, King Veruna finds himself enmeshed in a scandal.
While he and I have never seen eye to eye with regard to expanding Naboo's influence in the Republic, I am concerned for him, for his predicament has not only cast a pall over Naboo, but also over many neighboring worlds.'
Valorum clasped his hands behind his back and paced to the center of the spacious room. When he swung to face Palpatine, his expression made clear that his thoughts had returned to issues of wider concern.
'Is it conceivable that the Trade Federation would accept taxation in exchange for a loosening of the defense restraints we have placed them under?'
Palpatine steepled his long fingers and brought them to his chin.
'Merchandise-of whatever nature-is precious to the Neimoidians. The continuing assaults on their vessels by pirates and terrorists have made them desperate. They will rail against taxation, but in the end they will tolerate it. Our only other option would be to take direct action against the groups that are harassing them, and I know that you're opposed to doing that.'
Valorum confirmed it with a determined nod. 'The Republic hasn't had a standing military in generations, and I certainly won't be the person to reinstate one. Coruscant must remain a place where groups can come together to find peaceful solutions to conflicts.' He took a breath. 'A better course would be to allow the Trade Federation adequate protection to defend itself against acts of terrorism. After all, the Judicial Department can't very well suggest the Jedi dedicate themselves to solving the Neimoidians' problems.'
'No,' Palpatine said. 'The judicials and the Jedi Knights have more important matters to attend to than keeping the space lanes safe for commerce.' 'At least some constants remain,' Valorum mused. 'Just think where we might be without the Jedi.' 'I can only imagine.' Valorum advanced a few steps and laid his hands on Palpatine's shoulders. 'You're a good friend, Senator.' Palpatine returned the gesture. 'My interests are the interests of the Republic, Supreme Chancellor.' caret Diu Sheathed from pole to pole in duracrete, plasteel, and a thousand other impervious materials, Coruscant seemed invulnerable to the vagaries of time or assaults by any would-be agents of entropy.
It was said that a person could live out his entire life on Coruscant without once leaving the building he called home. And that even if someone devoted his life to exploring as much of Coruscant as possible, he would scarcely be able to take in a few square kilometers; that he would be better off trying to visit all the far-flung worlds of the Republic.
The planet's original surface was so long forgotten and so seldom visited that it had become an underworld of mythic dimension, whose denizens actually boasted of the fact that their subterranean realm hadn't seen the sun in twenty-five thousand standard years.
Closer to the sky, however, where the air was continually scrubbed and giant mirrors lit the floor of shallower canyons, wealth and privilege ruled.
Here, kilometers above the murky depths, resided those who fashioned their own rarified atmospheres; who moved about by private skylimo, and watched the diffuse sun set blazing red around the curve of the planet; and who ventured below the two-kilometer level only to conduct transactions of a sinister sort, or to visit the statuary- studded squares that fronted those landmark structures whose sublime architecture hadn't been razed, buried, or walled in by mediocrity.
One such landmark was the Jedi Temple.
A kilometer-high truncated pyramid crowned by five elegant towers, it soared above its surroundings, purposefully isolated from the babble of Coruscant's overlapping electromagnetic fields, and holding forth against the blight of modernization. Below it stretched a plain of rooftops, skybridges, and aerial thoroughfares that had conspired to create a mosaic of sumptuous geometries-colossal spirals and concentricities, crosses and triangles, quilts and diamonds-great mandalas aimed at the stars, or perhaps the temporal complements of the constellations to be found there.
At once, though, there was something comforting and forbidding about the Temple. For while it was a constant reminder of an older, less complicated world, the Temple was also somewhat austere and unapproachable, off-limits to tourists or any whose desire to visit was inspired by mere curiosity.
The design of the Temple was said to be symbolic of the Padawan's path to enlightenment-to unity with the Force, through fealty to the Jedi Codes. But the design artfully concealed a secondary and more practical purpose, in that the quincunx of towers — comfour oriented to the cardinal directions, with a taller one rising from the center-were whiskered with antennae and transmitters that kept the Jedi abreast of circumstances and crises throughout the galaxy they served.
Thus had contemplation and social responsibility been given equal voice.
Nowhere in the Temple was that wedding of purposes more evident than in the elevated chamber of the Reconciliation Council. Like the High Council Chamber, at the summit of an adjacent tower, the room was circular, with an arched ceiling and tall windows all around. But, less formal, it lacked the ring of seats occupied only by the twelve members of the High Council, who presided over matters of momentous concern.
Qui-Gon Jinn had been back on Coruscant for three standard days before the Reconciliation Council had asked him to appear before it. During that time, he had done little more than meditate, peruse ancient texts, pace the Temple's dimly lighted hallways, or engage in lightsaber training sessions with other Jedi Knights and Padawans.
Through acquaintances employed in the Galactic Senate, he had been apprised of the Trade Federation's requests for Republic intervention in repressing acts of terrorism, and for permission to augment their droid defenses, in the face of continuing harassment. Although those requests were nothing new, Qui — Gon had been surprised to learn of the Trade Federation's claim that Captain Cohl, in addition to destroying the Revenue, had made off with a secret cache of aurodium ingots, rumored to be worth billions of credits.
The revelation was much on his mind as he went before the members of the Reconciliation Council, unaware that they, too, were interested in discussing the incident at Dorvalla.
