“This is a recording captured by Rhil Dairo’s cam droid, Tee-Nine. The Twi’lek appears to go by the name of Dee. As I said, Amarant hasn’t revealed much, but the Jedi who last interviewed him reported a sense that Dee holds a position of power within the Nihil.”

“You fought her yourself, did you not, Master Gios?”

Stellan felt his face burn at Rosason’s question.

“Indeed I did.”

“And she was largely responsible for your injuries.”

“She is a … skilled fighter.”

“So it would seem.”

“I see. And what of the Drengir?”

Stellan frowned at the sudden switch in conversation. “We have already discussed Marshal Kriss’s mission …”

“I am not talking about Avar Kriss’s crusade, Master Gios. I am talking about the fact that Drengir matter was discovered on Valo during the attack.”

“I hear it was slightly more than that,” Keaton Murag commented.

Stellan fought the urge to pinch the bridge of his nose to relieve the headache that was building by the moment.

“Yes, Master Murag. According to a report by Vernestra Rwoh—”

“Your former apprentice,” Rosason cut in.

“My former apprentice, yes,” Stellan acknowledged. “As you know, a number of Jedi were operating at the fair during the attack, although due to the comm blackout we were unable to communicate. During this time, the Padawan known as Ram Jomaram discovered Nihil troops planting what appear to be Drengir spores around the communications tower.”

“Suggesting the Nihil have found a way to seed the Drengir,” Rosason pointed out. “Another weapon in their arsenal.”

Pre-Tre Veter looked concerned. “This has already been raised in the Senate,” the Tarnab told them. “Some even suggest that the Nihil are behind the Drengir crisis as a whole.”

“What better way to spread fear along the frontier?” Murag asked.

“Keeping Starlight Beacon conveniently busy while they raise merry hell on Valo,” Rosason added.

“I hardly think that’s fair,” Stellan injected.

Rosason actually went so far as to scoff. “Really, Master Gios. And why wasn’t the Hero of Hetzal on Valo at the time of the attack? Why had she commandeered so many Jedi for her task force? Jedi who could have come to Valo’s aid if they hadn’t been occupied by an infestation of murderous plants. We have been played by these Nihil. Led to believe that they are little more than a rabble. But if this is all true, if this attack was all part of an elaborate scheme …”

“Then they are an army,” Stellan said gravely, “with tactics and unexpected resources at their command.”

“Finally we agree on something, Master Gios,” Rosason conceded. “The real question is, if they are an army, who is their general?”

Stellan looked over at the hologram of the Twi’lek who had bested him.

“Do we know what happened to her?” Yareal Poof asked, as if reading his thoughts.