“Of course,” Samera repeated. “We have stepped up our security measures accordingly.”

“Not that anyone expects the Nihil to strike here,” Elzar added.

Stellan raised his eyebrows. “Before today no one expected the Nihil to strike so deeply into the Mid Rim. The Senate is obviously concerned.”

“And the Council?”

“Cautious. Grand Master Veter has assigned more Jedi. Porter Engle’s drift will accompany the Innovator to Valo and stay until after the opening ceremony.”

“And we will be pleased to have them,” Samera cut in. “Is Jedi Engle a Master?”

Stellan’s eyes sparkled. “Several times over.”

Samera looked confused, glancing at Elzar and then back at Stellan. “Is that even a thing?”

This time it was Stellan’s turn to issue an apology. “I was being flippant.”

“Let’s just say that Engle has been around for a long time,” Elzar told her.

“Not that you should remind him,” Stellan added. “He is one of the most respected Jedi in the Order, his name mentioned in the same breath as Masters Brisbane, Maota, and Yoda.”

“Excellent.” Samera glanced down at her datapad, scrolling through a list of names. “Then maybe we can assign him to the chancellor’s party? A special liaison for Regasa Yovet.”

“The Togruta head of state?”

Samera looked back up at Stellan. “The attack on Cyclor has spooked the Togruta ambassador. He’s threatening to advise that the regasa no longer come to Valo.”

“That … would not be optimal.”

Elzar stopped himself from shaking his head. Since when had Stellan started using words like optimal? Elzar had hoped that he would be a good influence on the Council, not the other way around. He was starting to sound like Council Member Rosason. Worse than that. He was starting to sound like a politician.

“Engle might not be the best choice,” Stellan continued, his brow knotted. “He has a tendency to be … terse.”

“That’s one way of putting it,” Elzar muttered, hoping Stellan couldn’t hear him. Engle was a lot of things, but a diplomat wasn’t one of them.

“Let me give this some thought,” Stellan said. “I’ll talk with the chancellor. See what she would like to do.”

“What about Avar?” Elzar chipped in, maybe a little too quickly. He could feel Samera’s eyes on him and ran through various micro-meditations to stop himself from blushing. The suggestion was valid. Since Hetzal, Avar Kriss was one of the best-known Jedi on the frontier, maybe in the entire Order. And she was marshal of Starlight, for stars’ sake. Surely the Togrutas would see her being assigned to the regasa as an honor of the highest class.

“It’s a good suggestion.” Stellan stroked his neat beard, another new habit he’d picked up in recent months. “Can you leave it with me, coordinator?”

“Of course,” Samera replied politely.

“I will get back to you as soon as possible so you can put the ambassador’s mind at rest.”