As would the chancellor’s frock, Rhil thought. Here, on the bridge of her state ship, Soh was wearing a smart but modest trouser suit, the only nod to her famed flamboyance a brooch made of sparkling lucryte. Yet the same gossipvids that spent so much time pairing Larep Reza with every eligible socialite in the thousand systems were working themselves into a frenzy over what outfit Lina Soh would be wearing for the fair’s opening. Not only was Soh presiding over the Republic in the period that could easily be described as the galaxy’s golden age, she was a gift from the Force for the fashion industry, her elaborate gowns ending up being cloned for every shopping net and star market. On anyone else, such glamour would seem an extravagance, but Soh had the galaxy’s heart. She was loved from the Deep Core to the wildest reaches of the frontier. No one since Chancellor Digrenara had done more for the Republic. Rhil had to admit being a little starstruck in her presence, hardly professional, but she hoped understandable. The woman had a pair of targons, for kriff’s sake—Matari and Voru, named after the gods of the ancient Coruscanti. Now, what was that if not a statement of intent?

“Will there be a security detail?” Senator Vaadu asked.

Stellan frowned. “As I said, Jedi Stokes and Zettifar—”

“Yes, yes, yes,” Vaadu interrupted. “But what about Republic Longbeams and Skyhawk interceptors.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Soh tried to reassure him.

It didn’t work.

“Not necessary? With the current climate?”

“You mean the Nihil,” Soh said, her voice losing just a fraction of its usual sparkle.

“Of course I mean the Nihil. We’ve all seen the reports. The attacks aren’t going away, Chancellor.”

“But they are lessening,” Stellan pointed out. “We have seen a drop in Nihil activity in the last few months, especially in the systems surrounding Valo. We believe those strike forces still in operation are mere remnants of the main fleet we engaged in the Kur Nebula nearly a year ago.”

“But what of the attacks on Quantxi and Salissia?” Vaadu pressed. “Remnants or not, they still pose a threat.”

“Not to the fair,” Samera said. “We will have a full security contingent, including Longbeams stationed at all major jump points into the system …”

“Plus a squadron of Jedi Vectors on Valo itself,” Avar Kriss added, speaking for the first time since Rhil and the others had entered the chamber.

“And will you be there, Marshal?” Noor asked.

There was a pause. Only a slight one, but noticeable all the same, before Stellan swooped in to rescue the situation, ever the gallant Jedi Knight. Was that a flicker of annoyance on Kriss’s usually placid features?

“We are reviewing the situation on a daily basis.”

Noor harrumphed. “But the Nihil would think twice if the Hero of Hetzal is on Valo—”