Rebel Dawn (Han Solo, 3) by A. C. Crispin

Author:A. C. Crispin [Crispin, A. C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Star Wars, Science Fiction, Fiction
ISBN: 9780553574173
Publisher: Bantam
Published: 1998-03-09T07:00:00+00:00

Jabba lounged beside his aunt in her private audience chamber on Nal Hutta, watching and listening as Bria Tharen made her appeal to Desilijic. The woman spoke well, he had to admit … for a human.

“Almighty Jiliac,” Bria spread her hands before her, “just think what an opportunity this is for your clan. If Desilijic will just finance our group in terms of ammunition and fuel, the Corellian Resistance will make sure that Ylesia is no longer a thorn in your side. Wouldn’t it be worth it, to see Besadii brought low? And for such a modest outlay! We provide the troops, the weapons, the ships.…”

“But you will take the spice stored in the warehouses,” Jiliac said, in Huttese. Jabba and Jiliac’s protocol droid, K8LR, promptly translated the Hutt leader’s words. Jiliac’s repulsor sled bobbed slightly as she shifted her weight forward to regard the Rebel commander intently. “All we would gain could only be measured in negative terms. Now if we were to profit from this.…”

Bria Tharen shook her head. “If we take the risks, we get the spice, Your Excellency. Running a resistance is expensive. We can’t just wipe out your enemies for you and gain nothing for ourselves.”

Privately Jabba agreed with her. Why was Jiliac being so stubborn?

Jabba spoke up for the first time—in Basic, which he could speak, but rarely chose to. “Let me make sure I understand what you are offering, and what you wish from us, Commander.”

Bria turned to him, bowed slightly. “Certainly, Your Excellency.”

“One,” Jabba began ticking points off on his fingers. “Desilijic will provide you funding to purchase ammunition and fuel for an assault on Ylesia. Two, Desilijic will arrange to eliminate the t’landa Til priests before the attack … correct?”

“Yes, Your Excellency,” Bria said.

“Why do you need us for that?” Jiliac demanded haughtily. “If your group is such an efficient military force, then you should be able to handle a few puny t’landa Til.”

“Because we stand a much better chance of being able to control the Pilgrims if the Priests are already dead,” Bria Tharen replied. “It shouldn’t be too difficult for a kajidic of your resources to arrange. After all, there aren’t more than thirty priests on the whole planet, or so our intelligence indicates. Only about three per Colony, in most cases. Another thing … we don’t want our troops having to deal with fighting off the t’landa Til’s empathic vibes—we want them to be able to concentrate on fighting.”

“I understand,” Jabba said. “Three … in return for our funding and our promise to eliminate the priests, your groups will land and destroy the Besadii enterprise. Blow up the factories, make sure there is nothing left for Besadii to use in rebuilding.”

“That’s right, Your Excellency,” the Rebel commander said. “The risk is ours. Of course, we’ll also take the Pilgrims and the warehoused spice.”

“I understand,” Jabba said. “Your offer merits consideration, Commander. We—”

“No!” Jiliac snorted disgustedly and waved dismissal. “Girl, we have heard enough. Thank you, but—”

“Aunt!” Jabba said loudly, then lowered his voice when Jiliac broke off and turned to regard him in surprise.

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