The surface of Level 5,216 surrounding Umate’s peak had been turned into a greenspace, with effort being made to replicate the original plants and trees that would have been visible at the mountain’s base untold millennia earlier when the planet’s surface was still accessible. No one really knew if the park designer’s choices were accurate, but it was certainly lovely enough.

Ordinarily, Monument Plaza was full of tourists, all waiting their turn to touch Umate, a long line stretching most of the way through the park to Senate Hill. Now, though, the area was empty, cleared by the Coruscant Security Force. Lina could have held this meeting in her offices, or indeed, almost anywhere on the planet, but she liked being here. More than any other spot, it was here that she felt connected to the rest of the Republic. It drove her security teams crazy, because she was theoretically vulnerable to aerial attack while out in the open (though she thought Matari and Voru might find a way to bring down a speeder, if push came to shove). Lina was not worried about an attack, aerial or otherwise. This was the heart of the Core, and the Republic was at peace, barring the occasional regional squabble. She was as safe in Monument Plaza as she was in her own bed.

Let’s hope that’s still true, she considered, thinking about what had happened with the Legacy Run and all it could mean.

Norel Quo, her primary aide, an unpigmented Koorivar, unusual among his people, was waiting a respectful distance away.

“Are you ready, Chancellor?” he said.

“I am, Norel,” Lina answered. “I hope no one’s annoyed that I took a moment. I don’t come here enough, and considering the conversation we’re about to have, I thought it might be worth centering myself.”

“You’re the chancellor of the Republic,” Norel said, turning to keep pace with her as they walked away from the mountain and deeper into the park, Lina’s blue-clad Republic Guards falling into formation around them. “They’ll wait.”