Part 21 (1/2)

They viewed the Neimoidians' continuing purchases of upgraded droid weaponry as wasteful, and symptomatic of the Neimoidians' increasing sense of paranoia. But they rarely contested the expenditures, since the weapons afforded the fleet an added measure of protection. Similarly, they knew nothing of Sidious's plan for the Trade Federation to extend its reach beyond the outlying systems to the galactic rim itself.

And yet, Gunray was anxious.

The Sith Lord had communicated with him only once since arranging the meeting between the Neimoidians and the Baktoid and Haor Chall arms merchants. The communication had been brief and one-sided, with Sidious stressing the importance of Gunray's attending the trade summit, and a.s.suring him, as ever, that everything was going according to plan.

”The way to defeat Valorum,” the other Kuati was saying, ”is to persuade our signatory members that they gain nothing by decamping and seeking individual representation in the senate.”

”Even if that requires offering them lucrative trade incentives,” the Sull.u.s.tan added.

”But our profits,” Gunray blurted, despite his best efforts to control himself.

”The Republic taxes will have to be absorbed by the outlying systems,”

the directorate officer from Balmorra said. ”There is simply no other way.”

”And if the taxes are too exorbitant for the outlying systems to absorb?”

the Gran asked.

”Our share of the market will be lost. This could very well cripple us.”

This time Gunray managed to stifle himself.

It is all a charade, Sidious had said.

Taxation is but a minor obstacle in our path to greater glory. Allow your counterparts in the directorate to say and do as they wish. But refrain from offering any response--especially at the summit itself.

Our path, Gunray thought.

But had he entered into a true partners.h.i.+p, or one in which Sidious would emerge as the Neimoidians' overlord? How long could a Sith Lord content himself with mere economic power? And what was likely to become of Viceroy Nute Gunray once Darth Sidious set his sights on a target more worthy of his dark expertise?

Already Deputy Viceroy Hath Monchar and Commander Dofine had aired their separate misgivings about the alliance-- scarcely realizing that the partners.h.i.+p had as much been forced on Gunray as offered to him.

The Sith Lord had promised that he would communicate with Gunray once more before the summit began. Perhaps, the viceroy hoped, all would then be revealed.

Havac and his cohort returned to the main room of the customs warehouse, and the distant rumble of s.p.a.cecraft launches. The five mercenaries Cohl had a.s.sembled were sitting on the edges of the repulsorsleds that had borne them to the warehouse.

From the jittery way Havac moved, Lope knew that something unexpected had taken place. He jumped off the hovering sled to gaze down the corridor that led to the rear of the building.

”Where's Captain Cohl?” he asked Havac.

Above the scarf that swathed his face, Havac's eyes narrowed as he swung to face him. ”Cohl went out the back way. But he sends his luck.” Before anyone else could raise questions, he asked Lope, ”What's your preferred weapon?” Lope took a second look down the corridor, then returned to the sleds. ”Blades--of any length.” Havac turned to one of the other humans.

”Yours?” he asked, in an increasingly confident voice.

”Sniper rifles.” Havac glanced at the Gotal.

”I'm not a shooter. I'm a lookout.” Havac studied the remaining pair of humans--a brutish - looking man and an equally rough-cut woman.

”No preferences,” the man grunted.

”The same,” the woman said.

Havac took a portable holoprojector from his pocket and set it atop an alloy cargo crate. Everyone gathered round as an image of a Cla.s.sic-era building with a domed roof took shape in the cone of light.

”The site of the trade summit,” Havac said, as the image began to rotate, showing tall, slender towers at each corner, and four princ.i.p.al entrances. ”The main hall is a rotunda, similar in design to the Galactic Senate, but on a much smaller scale and without the detachable balconies.” Havac called up a panoramic view of the interior.

”True to their exaggerated sense of self-importance, the Eriadu delegation has placed itself at the center of the hall. The Coruscant delegation will occupy east-side tiers of seats--here-- with the members of the Trade Federation Directorate in west - side tiers. Delegations representing the Core Worlds, the Inner Rim, and the outlying systems will be dispersed throughout the rest of the hall.

”In the event of trouble, the Trade Federation Directorate will be able to activate a force field. But Valorum's delegation is deliberately uns.h.i.+elded, as a show of good faith.” The sniper scrutinized the image for a moment.

”Valorum is going to be a difficult target--even from the highest tier in the rotunda.”

”You'll be higher than that,” Havac said. ”The upper por-tion of the hall is a maze of maintenance walkways and gantries, along with booths designated for media personnel.”

”We'd have a better chance of hitting Valorum before he enters the building,” Lope said.

”Perhaps,” Havac conceded. ”But the plan hinges on our ability to infiltrate the summit and do the job there.”

”Four entrances,” the sniper said. ”Which one is Valorum coming through?”

Havac shook his head. ”Unknown. The route to the summit hall won't be revealed until the last possible instant, and we don't have anyone close enough to him to provide us with that data. That's why we need a spotter team on the outside.” Havac conjured another image from the holoprojector, showing the older quarter of the city, where the summits of innumerable buildings merged into an extensive range of rounded rooftops and elegant towers.

”Eriadu security is trying to keep the rooftops clear, but there aren't enough repulsorlift vehicles to provide steady surveillance, especially in areas like this, where the roofs are all interconnected.

Instead, security is flying sweeps at regular intervals, concentrating their efforts on the buildings adjacent to the summit hall.” Havac indicated one of the domed rooftops. ”From here, there's a decent view of the four boulevards that lead to the summit hall's separate entrances.

The spotters-- was He pointed to Lope, the Gotal, and the woman. his-comw have just enough time to position yourvs on the roof between air sweeps.

Access to the roof is through a safe house we maintain on Eriadu. The safe house will also serve as our rendezvous point after we're finished, or should something unforeseen occur beforehand. Valorum's hovercade will be easy to spot. As soon as you've ascertained the route, you'll communicate that information to the rest of us.”

”Where will you be?” Lope demanded to know.

Havac turned to him. ”The shooters will already be inside the hall, up in the walkways.”

”That'll be the first place security will look,” the sniper groused. ”I want something extra if I'm expected to hang myself out to dry.” Havac shook his head. ”You'll receive the same as everyone else. We all have important parts to play in this.”

”Havac's right,” Lope said. ”If you don't like being the shooter, I'll take your place, and you take the rooftop surveillance. I don't like heights, anyway.” The sniper glared at Lope. ”I didn't say I wouldn't do it. I'm only asking how I'm supposed to get to the walkways.” Havac motioned one of his alien confederates forward.

The Nikto placed a suitcase atop the same crate that supported the holoprojector and opened it. Havac lifted a jacket from the suitcase and handed it to the sniper.

”This will identify you as Eriadu security,” he explained. ”I'll provide you with the necessary doc.u.mentation later. The point is, you'll be in the summit hall before any of the delegations arrive.

Once we've learned which entrance Valorum is coming through, you'll get into whatever position you deem best.” The sniper folded the uniform jacket over his arm.

”When do I take the shot?”

”The proceedings will commence with a series of three prolonged trumpet fanfares,” Havac went on.