Shigar met her quick gaze. If they shared one thing, it seemed, it was a mistrust of the Mandalorians.

"Fifteen ships, " mused Captain Pipalidi, "including one bulk cruiser... "

Ax said, "We have three thousand front-line troops, divided across the remains of three regiments-repulsorlift, heavy weapons, and armored-with two hundred TRA-Nine battle droids. We have shuttles sufficient to land them and support them, but we lost much of our munitions when the ships carrying them were destroyed by the hexes. "

"Are those figures accurate?" asked the captain suspiciously.

"I have been ordered to withhold nothing. It is to our benefit, at the moment, not to do so. "

"In that spirit, I will offer the same. Three thousand five hundred troops, two full regiments. Repulsorlift and armor. Our wings were in the air when their capital ships were destroyed, so most of the fighters themselves survived. Hangar decks are crowded, though, and refueling options limited. "

"We have the same problem, " said Ax. "Colonel Kalisch sent raiding parties to salvage what they could from the infected vessels, but none returned. One came back infected. We destroyed it. "

"We noticed. Our intelligence staff is working double shifts, watching everything around the planet. Not helped, of course, by the fact that we were short-staffed to begin with. "

The captain's tension visibly eased as she and Ax exchanged details of losses and setbacks. Shigar had heard how battle lines could be blurred on a war's b.l.o.o.d.y front. This was the first time he had seen it in action. Perhaps Stryver's unlikely plan had some merit after all.

Ula broke into the rapid exchange of intelligence.

"Every minute we stand around chatting, " he said, "Xandret's droids build more of themselves, more factories, more who knows what? If we're going to stop them, we have to start making solid plans, and fast. "

"Agreed, " said Master Satele. "Our number one priority is stopping the droids from getting more than a toehold in orbit. While their factories are confined to the surface of the planet, it will be possible to defeat them. "

"A whole planet with just fifteen ships?" asked one of the captain's senior officers. "And just one bulk cruiser?" The hard-skinned major shook his head. "No matter how you divide it up, it's impossible. "

"Only if we tell ourselves it is, " said Shigar. "Stryver's data clearly showed how the hexes radiated outward from a central point-the main hot spot your ships bombarded, " he added with a nod to Ax. "I think it's safe to a.s.sume that this was where Xandret and the others founded the colony's capital. Destroying it didn't take out the hexes' coordinating intelligence, but must have hurt it enough to move elsewhere. If we look for the place that's growing the fastest, that'll be the place to hit. "

"We have identified two such locations, " said Captain Pipalidi. A hologram flickered to life between them. "Here and here, " she said, indicating one spot at the equator and another at the south pole. "Perhaps the hexes have decided not to put all their eggs in one basket, this time. "

Shigar studied the image. The site on the equator was in the middle of a vast sea of lava, dotted with islands of solid stone. The polar site was much more stable. Straight lines radiated from it in all directions, leading to other spots elsewhere.

"That's a factory, " he said, pointing at the pole. "Perhaps the master factory, where everything else originates. And that's the brain, " he said, transferring his finger to the equator.

"How can you possibly know that?" asked Ax.

"Because factories need physical means to get things in and out. Resources, power, finished droids. That's what these are. " He followed one line from point to point. "Roads or railways of some kind. Or power cables. "

"And brains don't need anything of the sort, " she said, nodding. "It can just sit there, isolated in the middle of that mess, sending orders out by radio. "

"I think you're right, Shigar. " Master Satele moved around the globe, rubbing her chin. "Teams striking both at once, plus targeted bombardment at the secondary locations, should be enough to slow the hexes' growth. "

"Enough to stop it, perhaps, "said Captain Pipalidi, "until reinforcements arrive. "

There was an uncomfortable silence. Shigar knew as well as anyone that, once the threat of the planet was reduced to zero, the alliance would break. This moment of solidarity was both fragile and temporary. No one had forgotten that the Sith and the Jedi, the Empire and the Republic, were anything other than mortal enemies.

"Let's worry about reinforcements when they get here, " Ula said. "Captain Pipalidi, would you be willing to sketch out a basic plan now, to pa.s.s on to Darth Chratis and Colonel Kalisch for their opinion? I suggest dividing resources evenly over all tactical objectives, to ensure that both parties feel that they are included but not exploited, plus double the usual number of commanding officers to each platoon.

Discipline must be maintained. We don't want the troops shooting one another at a critical moment. "

"Naturally not, " said the captain with a bluish cast to her crest. Shigar didn't know what that meant. Irony, perhaps.

Shigar caught another glance from the young Sith's direction-bored, this time, and again he sympathized. Their duel in the Hutts' security air lock felt a lifetime ago. His lightsaber hand itched, but he kept it carefully limp at his side.

The door to the conference room hissed open. Larin was taken by surprise. She had long ago given up trying to read the lips of the people inside. On seeing a major, she automatically stood to attention.

"Private Hetchkee, a moment, " said the st.u.r.dy Rellarin. "You, too, Moxla. "

Larin followed Hetchkee and the major into the conference room. The air seemed much denser than normal, as was always the case during long planning sessions. A current projection of the planet hung in the center of the room, dashed and dotted with notations in yellow and green. People huddled around it, making suggestions. The Sith girl was one of them.

Both Shigar and Ula looked up as Larin entered, but it was the captain who spoke.

"We're sending strike teams to two locations, " she said in a voice so deep it hurt Larin's breastbone. One long finger stabbed at the globe. "Here, and here. We need people familiar with the hexes to guide each team. Both your names have been mentioned for the a.s.sault on the master factory. Private Hetchkee, your detail was with the envoy, under the authority of Supreme Commander Stantorrs. I don't outrank him, of course, but I can promote you above the rank required for an escort. No one would dream of wasting a lieutenant on such a detail, and we're short of officers. Will you accept this a.s.signment?"

"Yes, sir. " Hetchkee snap-saluted, looking like he was equal parts delighted and terrified. This was not only the fastest leap up the chain of command imaginable, but it could also be the briefest.

"And what about you, Moxla?"

"Forgive me, sir, but I have a history-"

"So I'm told. I don't care what happened back then. You're the closest thing we have to special forces now, so I'd be insane not to use you. All that matters is that you'll follow orders-and be followed in turn, by anyone who has any doubts. Do you think you can manage that?"

Her face was burning. In the service again! She didn't know whether to kill Shigar or kiss him.

"Yes, sir. I do. I will. "

"Good. Major Cha, take them to the quartermaster and have them kitted out. I want them briefed and ready for action within the hour. "

"Yes, sir. "

The Rellarin saluted and guided them toward the door. Larin felt as though she were walking through a weightless vacuum-not floating, exactly, but cut loose from everything. One touch, and she could tumble out of control.

The major chuckled once the door was shut behind them. "You should see your faces, " he said. "Well, I can't really see yours, Hetchkee, but I can imagine. "

"Are we really going to attack the planet, sir?"

"You bet you are. Are you up to it?"

"I'll do my best, sir. "

"That's all we can ask of you. What we expect is a different story. "

In no time at all they reached the Commenors expansive technical storeroom. Larin gazed hungrily at row after row of clean armor sh.e.l.ls, up-to-date weapons, and apparently endless cases of ammunition. She knew this wasn't a big ship, so the stores weren't as extensive as she imagined, but it was so much more than she had seen in a long time. She almost wept.

"Here we are. Sergeant, these two new lieutenants find themselves sorely underprovisioned. Make sure they're equipped with everything they need, and do it on the double. "

"Yes, Major Cha. "

The swarthy sergeant took charge of Larin and led her into paradise.

"What about the Mandalorian?" Ax asked when the stunned troopers were gone. "What role does he play in all this?"

She hadn't forgotten her vow. I will kill you, Duo Stryver, or die trying.

"Apart from supplying any other intel he might have, " said the captain, "I expect him to join the fighters sweeping hexes from orbit"

"It might be difficult keeping him out of play, " said one of her officers. "Mandalorians love nothing better than a good fight. "

"He's done a very good job of staying out of this one, " said the Padawan with a shrug. "Maybe he'll be content with that. "

Ax kept her feelings to herself. She would be hundreds of kilometers away from them, then, intent on destroying the droids' coordinating intelligence. But she would advise her Master to keep an eye on Stryver's scout, in the hope that it strayed too close to an Imperial ship. In the chaos of combat, missiles often went astray. She wanted him dead, even if she couldn't deliver the killing blow herself.

"One of our signals officers believes the hexes identify us by our transponders, " said another alien on the captain's staff. "We could feather our drives, confuse them. "

"Better yet, " said the Padawan, "we could avoid drives entirely. "

"What do you mean?"

"Shuttle to low orbit, free-fall straight down from there, then chute onto the targets. "

Ax was impressed. She liked that plan, despite herself. "It could work. We'll show up on radar, of course, but they won't know what we are. Toss out a bit of junk with us, and they might even mistake us for debris. "

The captain was nodding. "Excellent. The only thing left to decide is who has overall authority. "

There was another awkward silence.

Ax had known this moment was coming. "Darth Chratis or Colonel Kalisch. We have the bulk cruiser. "

"But we have more ships, " said Captain Pipalidi.

"Master Shan should make the call, " said the Padawan, with perfect predictability. "Her foresight is legendary. "

"Does she know how this is going to end?" Ax asked him.

"I do not, " the Grand Master said. "But I do know that we'll never agree on this point. I suggest we give someone else the authority to oversee this engagement. Not the details, but the key strategic moments. Someone we have already trusted to act as a go-between in difficult circ.u.mstances. "

All eyes turned to Envoy Vii.

"I, ah, would be honored, of course, " he said, "but..."

"Darth Chratis will accept this proposal, " said Ax, enjoying the way the traitor squirmed.

"So will I, " said the captain.

"On one condition, " Ax added. "We must be sure that Envoy Vii is acting independently, not under any kind of distress or influence. As we cannot guarantee that he will do so here, in a Republic vessel, we require that he be stationed elsewhere, and remain in constant contact with all parties. "

"Not with you, " said the captain. "Or Dao Stryver. "

"Nebula's ship, " said Shigar.

The Grand Master nodded. "The Auriga Fire. "

Envoy Vii's larynx bobbed once, twice, then he visibly got himself together.

"I will accept this responsibility, " he said, "on the a.s.sumption that my instructions will be followed to the letter. There's no point having me in this role if you won't listen to me. All of you. "

He was looking at the captain, who nodded. Clearly a civilian authority was better than either a Sith or a Jedi. "I will play my part, " she said.

"Darth Chratis will, too, " Ax said. "I'm sure Envoy Vii will do the right thing by all of us. "

He glanced at her, and she saw the terror in his eyes. He understood very well indeed what she had meant.

While the Sith apprentice relayed the orders to her Master, Ula took a moment to review the plan in his mind. Primary and secondary objectives were now defined. There would be three teams. The first would clear Sebaddon's...o...b..t so that landing parties could get through. The second, led by Grand Master Shan, would attempt to destroy the droids' coordinating intelligence-their version of him, he now realized. No doubt the hexes would be seeking to take him out in return. The third team would be lead by Major Cha, with Larin and Hetchkee backing him up. They would drop into the master factory and prevent the droids from creating a new CI.

Ula's job was to oversee it all and somehow to stay alive.

The Jedi Padawan came in close.

"I don't know what you told them, " Shigar whispered, "but you've got the Imperials jumping exactly in time. "

Ula looked up from the holographic globe. "It was nothing special, " he said, hiding many layers of truth behind a simple lie. "They're not monsters. They can be made to see reason. "

Shigar's doubt on that point was impervious. "However you did it, keep it up and you'll be Supreme Chancellor one day. "

Not if I'm caught. Ula was well aware of how agents were punished by both sides. But part of him was flattered by the Padawan's confidence in him. He remembered how Shigar had saved him from the collapsing wall on Hutta, and how Larin had volunteered to accompany him to what must have seemed like certain doom, when meeting with Darth Chratis. These acts had been offered freely, without promise of reward. He didn't understand where they came from, unless they genuinely thought him worth saving.

Him, he wondered, or his false face?

Either way, he felt somewhat buoyed by their regard.

"The Mandalorian agrees, " said the Rellarin major, looking up from a separate holoprojector. "Intel and surveillance, engaging only as instructed. "

"Darth Chratis concurs on all points but one, " added the Sith apprentice on returning to the huddle. "He will fight with Master Shan during the a.s.sault on the CI. And I will fight, too. "

The Grand Master nodded slowly. "Very well. My Padawan will be part of the strike force, so that is only fair. "

"Excellent, " said Ula, playing the part of mediator with something like aplomb, he hoped. "We are agreed. All that remains is to begin. "

"No time like the present, I say, " Captain Pipalidi rumbled.

"My sentiments exactly, " said Ula. "I will retire to the Auriga Fire and set up my command post there. On notification that all is in place elsewhere, I will give the order. Nothing is to commence until then. Understood?"

They understood well enough, and he was under no illusions, either. It was all an act, a hasty bandaging of cracks that would inevitably tear the alliance asunder. But while they were prepared to play, so was he.

Captain Pipalidi clicked her fingers and an escort fell in behind him. They marched him through the ship to where the Auriga Fire remained safely docked, then left him there.

The smuggler looked up when he entered the c.o.c.kpit.

"How'd it go?"