Cloak of deception by James Luceno

Author:James Luceno [Luceno, James]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction, General, Fiction
ISBN: 9780712679572
Publisher: Century
Published: 2001-07-14T23:00:00+00:00

Unknown

purpose of opening negotiations with the Nebula Front." The humanoid

showed his teeth. “The Nebula Front's grievances are with the Trade Federation, not Coruscant--and we can settle those in our own fashion. What's more, we know full well how the Jedi ”negotiate.“ his Tiin leaned toward the holocam pickup, narrowing already narrow eyes. ”Then let me provide you with a reason. Coruscant has grievances with the Nebula Front when they make an attempt on the life of a Republic dignitary.“ The humanoid blinked in apparent bafflement. ”Your meaning escapes me, Jedi. Whose life was threatened?"

“The life of Supreme Chancellor Valorum.” Concern tugged at the humanoid's gross features. “Your guides have misled you. As I said, we have no issue with the Republic.”

“Some of the assassins were tracked to Asmeru,” Tiin pressed.

“They may have been tracked here, but we know nothing of their actions.” Tiin pressed his point. “I propose that someone in a position of command come aboard and speak with us.” The humanoid scoffed. “You must be space happy.”

“Then will you allow us to come to the surface and speak with you?” “Do we have a choice in the matter?”

“No, not really.”

“I thought as much,” the humanoid said. “How many Jedi are you?” “Seven.”

“And how many judicials?”

“Perhaps twenty.” The humanoid turned to discuss the matter with someone out of view. “As a gesture of good faith, leave one of your cruisers in orbit, along with most of the Judicial force,” he replied at last. “Two of our CloakShapes will usher the other cruiser down.” Tiin glanced at Yaddle, then Billaba, both of whom nodded. He swung back to the holocam pickup. “We await your escort.”

“Is there anyone here who feels confident about this?” Vergere asked while the cruiser was descending through the thin clouds that barely masked Asmeru's wrinkled surface. When no one responded to the delicate, feathered Jedi's question, she shook her disproportionately large head. “Just as I feared.” Qui-Gon glanced meaningfully at Obi-Wan.

The two of them left the pod and retraced their steps to the cockpit. By the time they arrived, features of the landscape were coming into view: ice-capped mountain ranges; arid plateaus; steep and intricately terraced hillsides, pale-green with crops, climbing above ribbons of racing black water.

“What should we do in the event of trouble, Master?” Obi - Wan asked quietly.

Qui-Gon's gaze didn't leave the cockpit viewport. “In a rainstorm, you try to keep dry by hurrying for shelter. But you get soaked regardless.”

“It's better to conclude beforehand that you're going to get wet,” Obi- Wan said.

Qui-Gon nodded.

The ruins of an ancient city of quarried stone appeared on the horizon-- monolithic monuments, rectangular platforms, and stepped pyramids, silhouetted against the sky, as if they were a range of hills. Directly below, enormous geometric shapes and animistic symbols had been etched into the perpetually thirsty ground. The city was bounded by walls made of cyclopean boulders, assembled in the shape of lightning bolts.

Surrounding the ruins spread a maze of primitive dwellings built of mud and sun-baked clay.

Tiny

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