Free Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II by Sean Williams

discouraged, ” said Ackbar. “They’re a brave and proud people, like my own, when roused. “
    A tenth person came into the room from behind them, and instantly the five Quarren were on their feet, bulbous eyes staring, tentacles waving and fingers pointing. They tongue-spat and snarled in their alien tongue, as much at Ackbar as to the new arrival, who was another Quarren, as impenetrable as the rest.
    “This was a mistake, ” this one said in heavily accented Basic. “I knew I should not have come. “
    “Stay, Seggor, stay. ” Ackbar put a hand on the Quarren’s arm and turned to the others. “He’s here at my invitation, ” he told the others. “Don’t you think I have as much to be angry about as you?”
    An uneasy silence fell. Juno studied the dynamic closely as the newcomer eased farther into the room and Ackbar encouraged everyone to sir with him at the table. He introduced the people who didn’t know one another in a matter-of-fact way, downplaying the dramatics with his brisk, no-nonsense tone. Juno felt some of the tension ebb, even though it was never remotely close to vanishing.
    When it was Seggor Tels’s turn to be introduced, he offered a brief explanation regarding his fellows’ outrage.
    “A young fool I once was, ” he said. “A fool who thought my enemy’s enemy must be my friend. It was I who sabotaged our world’s planetary shields, resulting in our home’s occupation and my people’s enslavement. In the many years since, I have learned to regret that action, and to understand that my kind is not alone in its persecution. We must put aside our differences and work together to reclaim our world. We must stand together. “
    He addressed them with a conviction that spoke more of necessity than real commitment, but Juno admired the attempt. In the face of years of animosity between his species and the Mon Calamari, plus the very personal antagonism displayed by Siric and the others, he was bravely standing his ground when it would have been much easier simply to go into hiding and never emerge.
    “We’re here to help you, ” she said. “If you’ll let us. “
    Siric said something in the Quarren tongue, which Tels translated.
    “He says you’re only here to help yourselves. You care about starships, not the oceans or the people who live in them. “
    “The right of all beings to live freely and in peace, ” said Organa, “is what the Rebel Alliance cares about. Ships will help us, yes, but that’s not our primary objective in coming here. We need leaders and soldiers; we need people who will spread the word; we need translators and medics and all manner of specialty. What we need most of all, though, is to know that the people we’re fighting for are behind us. We’re risking our lives-and the lives of our families-every time we so much as speak out against the Emperor. Forgive us if we ask for a little commitment in return. “
    Organa’s expression was severe, and Juno could tell that he was thinking of more than himself. Now that the Emperor knew he was a traitor, Leia was in constant jeopardy. Only a constant pretense of innocence and compliance had saved her thus far-that and the fact that even the Emperor balked at murdering such a well-known and well-liked young woman.
    Tels translated Senator Organa’s words, and some of the aggression left the five. Siric looked down at his hands, which were splayed out in front of him. Juno noticed that two of his digits were missing from his right hand. Explosives expert, she remembered, and wondered what efforts he had already made to repel the Empire from his world.
    “The Hundred Eighty-First fighter wing is based in Heurkea, ” Ackbar went on, producing a datapad and displaying images as he spoke. The first was a map of the southern territorial zone, with the floating city appropriately marked. “We can approach from the east, behind the cover of Mester Reef. The Hundred Eighty-First patrols every three standard