Free Rebel Stand: Enemy Lines II by Aaron Allston

any digestive juices.”
    “That’s the most revolting thing you’ve said all day.And don’t these people believe in fresh air? Maybe a balcony?”
    “Sure they do. They believe in other things, too. They’re known for the adeptness of their politicians and the skills of their snipers, characteristics that help keep one another in check.”
    “Good point. So let me ask you something important.”
    “Sure. But first—” Leia turned to the droids. “Artoo, how about some music? Something Coruscanti.”
    R2-D2 whistled obligingly. Then from his interior wafted music, an ancient Coruscant chamber composition played mostly on strings.
    Han, puzzled, opened his mouth to ask when she’d put a music module in the astromech, but Leia placed a hand over his mouth, placed a finger to her own lips.
    Then Han heard his own voice coming from the droid, clear and as realistic as if Han were standing there. “So when we decide to settle down again, where would you like it to be?” Leia’s voice was next: “I’m not sure. What if I’m needed to help rebuild Coruscant?”
    The real Leia, her voice a faint whisper, said, “
Now
we can talk.”
    Han matched his volume to hers. “That’s the conversation we had coming back from dropping the Jedi kids off.”
    Leia nodded. “I’ve been recording us from time to time for situations just like this. Each conversation is cued to a different piece of music. It’s much simpler than hunting down and exterminating all the listening devices that are likely to be planted here.”
    “Politics …” Han shook his head. “Not my strength.Care to let me know what we’re looking at here, so I have an idea of what to shoot at?”
    Leia nodded and crooked a finger at C-3PO. The protocol droid moved up to stand before the couch, and, when Leia beckoned again, leaned forward until his golden head made the third point of a triangle with theirs. “Yes, mistress?”
    “Have you been sampling the local information broadcasts?”
    “I have.”
    “Can you synopsize the Presider’s election and the candidate positions?”
    “There are three candidates, but two are sufficiently out ahead of the third so far in pre-election polls that only their participation has any meaning,” the droid said. “Addath Gadan is a twenty-year representative of Vannix before the New Republic Senate, and Admiral Apelben Werl heads the planetary system’s navy. Since the abdication of the previous Presider, each has come to dominate, through political strategems, force of will, and calling due of personal markers, ever-greater portions of the planetary infrastructure. It is expected that the upcoming election will end the competition between them, but it remains possible that the loser in the contest will choose not to accept the election results and seize the government by force. Addath Gadan promotes an agenda of cooperation with and appeasement of the Yuuzhan Vong, while Admiral Werl favors military opposition. As is customary in politics, each supports the notion that her election constitutes a mandate of the masses related to these preeminent campaigning issues rather than a matter of personal charisma.”
    “Nicely boiled down,” Han whispered. “Can you do the history of the Sith in thirty words or less?”
    “Only in the most general terms, sir, and without including most pertinent dates and personality profiles—”
    “Han, stop that.” Leia scowled at him.
    “Sorry, easy target, I know.” Han sighed. “All right. We’ve actually accomplished our number one objective here. If they haven’t already, our two secret passengers will soon drag their crates of comm gear, weapons, and trade goods out of the
Falcon
and run off to begin setting up a local resistance cell. So we could leave tomorrow and consider this mission a success.”
    “We could.”
    “But not with your conscience clean.”
    “Or yours either.”
    “My conscience is
always
clean. But we
would
be leaving the planet in a