Stellan raised his eyebrows. Porter Engle, the so-called Blade of Bardotta. The Ikkrukki was a legend, some three hundred years old. He had served the Order for centuries but in his twilight years had taken a posting on Elphrona as outpost cook of all things. He’d obviously been reassigned from Elphrona, since the Nihil raid that had seen Bell lose his Master. Two Jedi both from the same outpost, now reunited above the skies of Cyclor, if Bell lived, of course. Still, if Engle was already on his way, the Padawan’s odds of survival had increased.

“Communications seem to be down, although some of the Cyclorrians seem to be bypassing the block.”

“I’ll have my Jedi look into it.”

“Keep me informed.”

“Of course,” the Cosian replied. “May the Force be with us all.”

Stellan killed the transmission and turned to see the chancellor conversing with a number of officials on the holowall, including Pra-Tre Veter, one of the three Grand Masters of the Jedi High Council.

The horned Tarnab acknowledged Stellan’s arrival. “Master Gios.”

“Grand Master,” Stellan responded. “Master Sinube of the Derra Outpost has dispatched reinforcements, a drift of Vectors led by Porter Engle.”

“The Force will be with them,” the Grand Master said. “And what of Stokes and the boy?”

Stellan glanced at the raw footage from the shipyards. “Still no word.”

Veter’s snout flared at the news. “May the Force deliver them from peril.”

“In all honesty, Grand Master, I am more concerned about the shipyard.”

Stellan glanced at the owner of the heavily accented voice. It belonged to a tan-skinned Sullustan whom Stellan knew all too well, as did every member of the Jedi Council—Tia Toon, the senator who had caused such consternation in Lina Soh’s earlier meeting and who seemed ready to cause trouble now that he had joined the conversation.

“Tia …” the chancellor began, only to be shut down.

“Yes, yes. I know what you are about to say. Our thoughts are with those caught in the middle of the attack, but we must also consider the financial implications of this act.”

“Senator!”

“I’m only saying what everyone is thinking. Sullust has invested heavily in Cyclor.”

“As has much of the galaxy,” Chancellor Soh pointed out. “The shipyards are second only to Corellia.”

“And yet they have been defended by what? Two Jedi?”

Soh spoke before Stellan could step in. “As you have just heard, reinforcements have been sent.”

“Yes,” the Sullustan spat. “Jedi reinforcements. Again, we are relying on the Jedi to protect us.”

This time Stellan had to speak. “As is our duty, Senator. The Jedi have pledged—”