Jedi Trial by David Sherman

meeting,” he continued. “I do not want to give our citizens the impression of hasty decision making, but we must act swiftly this evening. Also, it’s very important our people understand the gravity of what has happened and support us totally in our effort to retake the planet and support Captain Slayke—or rescue him, if that’s what is required. I need your help because you are all respected and influential members of the Republic who can convince others to put their support behind me in this. I know, I know, I can dispatch forces at will, I have the power to do that, but we are still ademocracy and I don’t want later to be accused of exercising dictatorial powers or to have my decisions subjected to the sniping of armchair critics after the fact. I’m relying on you to convince your supporters and constituents that I have acted in the best interests of the Republic and that we cannot give up our struggle for freedom because of temporary reverses.”
    “And I would add this,” Isard put in. “Slayke’s is not a droid or a clone army. His soldiers are all volunteers and highly motivated individuals. He will give Tonith a run for his credits, no pun intended.”
    “What forces do we have that we can spare?” Ha’Nook asked.
    Palpatine shifted in his chair and stretched his legs. “The garrison force on Centax One, some twenty thousand clones.” He shrugged. “We shall have to commit them; they’re all we have that are immediately available.” Centax 1, Coruscant’s second moon, had been transformed during the early stages of the present emergency to provide a staging base for military operations.
    “So that means, Chancellor, that we shall have no reserve left to deal with any other contingency?” Ha’Nook exclaimed. “What if we need troops here on Coruscant? Chancellor,” she said, shaking her head gravely, “I think this is a serious strategic mistake.”
    The Chancellor steepled his fingers again and made no reply for a long moment. The others remained silent. At last, Isard leaned forward to speak, but Palpatine silenced him with a glance. “Senator, consider: once the Separatists have consolidated their foothold on Praesitlynand reinforced its garrison there, we shall never be able to retake the planet. Instead of it being our eyes on that vital sector, it will be a dagger pointed directly at the heart of our Republic. We have no choice. We must act and we must do it now.”
    “Chancellor …” Ha’Nook leaned forward, a forefinger raised to make her point. “If that is the case, then why wasn’t Praesitlyn reinforced earlier?”
    Palpatine shrugged. “My mistake. I take full responsibility for not foreseeing this event.”
    “Tipoca City has promised us a large batch of reinforcements,” Isard began.
    “When will they be ready?” Ha’Nook snapped.
    “Two or three months.”
    Ha’Nook snorted and sat back in her chair. “I will have to think this over, Chancellor. It may require a full vote of the Senate. After all, we cannot endanger the security of—”
    “I was hoping to avoid that, Senator,” Palpatine interrupted. “Of course I understand what you are saying. But in times of emergency, decisions have to be made; leaders have to take on the responsibility of their offices and commit themselves boldly—”
    “And suffer the consequences of failure?” Ha’Nook shot back.
    “And accept the consequences, yes, Senator,” Palpatine replied. He had expected this from Ha’Nook. He nodded almost imperceptibly at Sly Moore, who had remained hovering silently in the background during this conversation. Only the Supreme Chancellor saw her smile. He rose. “Shall we sleep on it? Let us talk again in the morning.”
    “And who shall command this expedition?” Paige-Tarkin asked.
    Palpatine straightened, smoothed his robes, turned toward her, and smiled. “A Jedi Master,” he said.
    Jannie Ha’Nook was half expecting the call that came less than an hour after the