"Michael P. Kube - McDowell - Black Fleet 2 - Shield of Lies" - читать интересную книгу автора (Kube-McDowell Michael P)

"Unless Senator Noimm would like to lead us in prayer to the Star
Mother--" The laughter around the table was cold, but Noimm's eyes were
colder. "There are two lives at stake here--the lives of two valuable
friends of the New Republic.

And please remember that the droids are of no small value, either--they
had their own role in making it possible for there to be a New
Republic. I doubt there are any droids anywhere who are better known
than these two--or better loved, for that matter."

"If they are so important to the New Republic, they should be in the
museum, along with all the other beloved icons," said Praget curtly.

"Along with Luke Skywalker, to whom they belong?" asked Senator
Lillald. "I must agree with Cair Tok. I would not want to face the
questions that would come if these four were to disappear in our
service and we were to make no effort to recover them."

"In our service? Have you read the account of how they came to be on
that ship? They can hardly be said to be in our service," said Senator
Amamanam. "General, could you kindly explain to us how it is that the
Baron Calrissian and the others came to be involved in the first
place?

I don't recall there being any mention of them in the expedition plan
you brought to us."

"General Calrissian was representing the Fleet on this mission, at the
request of the Fleet Office," Rieekan said deliberately. "The others
comprise his support staff, pparently assembled specifically for this
mission."

"This is all so absurd," Praget fumed. "If it were Hammax and his men
on board the vagabond, as it should have been, we would not be having
this discussion.

Either they would have disabled the ship, or we'd be sending our
regrets to the families of the missing in action."

"Senator--" "But Pakkpekatt allowed these meddlers, these outsiders,
these amateurs, to intervene, and suddenly it becomes impossible to
write off our losses in a professional manner."

Rieekan tried again. "Senator, have the reports from Colonel
Pakkpekatt led you to reevaluate the potential gain if we succeed in
recovering the Qella vessel?"

"No, General," said Praget, with a touch of impatience at being
handled. "I'm still quite convinced that this artifact is worthy of