Pan wanted to slam her irritating face into the table. “That was one Cloud. Now we return as legion, not just to smash, but to do what we do best: to take what is ours by right of conquest. We thought too small with the Innovator. Do you know how many ships are in that yard? How many ships that could be ours?”

Lourna crossed her arms, looking down at the display.

“It’s an interesting target, but is it ambitious enough?”

“How so?” Zeetar asked.

“Cyclor is important to the Mid Rim, yes …”

“To the entire Republic,” Pan reminded her.

“Again, I don’t disagree, but hitting the Republic Fair was a hugely symbolic act. I suggest we need something equally momentous, equally devastating.”

“Such as?”

She jabbed a finger at the edge of the board, Pan’s eyes going wide when he saw where she was pointing. “Hetzal Prime?”

The Twi’lek looked him straight in the eye. “We’ve already shown that the Jedi can bleed. Why not break them altogether? Erase the scene of their greatest triumph. Prove to the galaxy that their Jedi cannot protect them.”

Pan grinned. His pulse was racing, his adrenaline at a peak. He’d suspected a challenge from Lourna, not that she would throw herself behind his plans with such vigor.

“I like it. It would certainly send a message.”

“And where next?” Ro asked, his voice low. “Alderaan? Chandrila? Coruscant?”

“Why not?”

“Because it is suicide!”

Pan couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “How can you say that?”

“Because unlike you I see the bigger picture.” Ro was circling the table now, coming around to face Pan. “You did great work, all of you, but forcing the Republic’s hand is a mistake.”

“Force their hand? We’ve laid them wide open.”

“And they are hurting. My source within the Senate tells me that an emergency session has been called, blame is being applied. The chancellor is on her deathbed.”

“Yes,” Lourna spat. “And the bomb that hit her walker nearly killed me. I saw her, Ro, before I got away. I doubt anyone could survive that.”

“You did,” Ro pointed out.

“I’m hard to kill.”

“And that’s what makes us better,” Pan snarled, turning on Ro who was now standing beside him. “You see that, don’t you, Ro? We wanted Lina Soh dead.”

“We wanted the Republic to realize the threat we pose,” Ro snapped. “We wanted them to realize that their so-called Spirit of Unity is a lie. And we’ve done it. Now no one on the frontier will sleep soundly. No one will think the Jedi can help.”

“Then we should strike.”

“No, you should listen.”