by Timothy Zahn
“Comm, open transmission,” Thrawn ordered. “Scrim Island, this is Admiral Thrawn aboard the ISD Chimaera. Lower your shield and surrender, or we will continue to inundate your heavy weapons and shore defenses until they have been destroyed and those operating them killed. Repeat: Lower your shield and surrender or be destroyed.”
There was no response. “Do we continue firing, Admiral?” Faro asked.
“Alternate fire between Targets One and Three,” Thrawn said. “Alert the assault boats for imminent action.”
Another burst of turbolaser fire sizzled from the Chimaera into the now seething ocean. “Tsunamis on Targets One and Three,” the first observer reported. “Looks like a fire has started in the area around Target Two.”
“Sir, the shield is down!” the sensor officer called excitedly. “Looks like they’re surrendering.”
“Confirm that, Admiral,” the comm officer added. “The insurgent leader is formally asking for terms.”
“Tell him he and his men are to leave their weapons in the buildings and wait outside for the assault boats,” Thrawn said. “Any attempts at further resistance will be met with deadly force.”
He half turned to the crew pit, and Eli could see an especially harsh glitter in his glowing red eyes. “And tell him,” he added quietly, “that the cost will be severe if any of his hostages are harmed.”
He waited for an acknowledgment, then turned and walked back along the command walkway to where Eli and Faro were standing. “You may signal Coruscant with news of our victory, Commander Vanto,” he said. “Once the island has been fully retaken, Commander Faro, you will oversee the task of tractoring the three cruisers safely out of Batonn’s gravity well so that they may initiate repairs.”
Eli nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“Yes, Admiral,” Faro said. “And may I add my congratulations. A brilliant plan, perfectly executed. An outstanding victory.”
“Victory, Commander?” Thrawn shook his head. “This battle is over. But the war for Batonn has not yet been won.”
He turned and looked back along the walkway. “Should I be needed, I will be in my cabin. Inform me when the island has been secured.”
—
“Have you ever been aboard an Imperial Star Destroyer, Governor?” Yularen asked as his corvette rode the docking tractor beam into the Chimaera’s hangar bay.
“No, I haven’t had the privilege, Colonel,” Arihnda said. In point of fact, she’d never even seen one of the massive ships this close, let alone been invited aboard one.
But ships were ships, men were men, and admirals—even ones who’d risen as rapidly through the ranks as Thrawn—were still just admirals. She’d handled her share, and she would handle this one.
Thrawn was waiting when Arihnda and Yularen emerged from the docking tunnel. “Governor Pryce,” the admiral greeted her. “Colonel Yularen. Welcome aboard.”
“Thank you, Admiral,” Arihnda said. Commander Vanto was standing a few steps behind him, along with a woman wearing a commander’s insignia plaque. “We appreciate you seeing us on such short notice.”
“Especially considering how busy you obviously are,” Yularen added. “But I think this meeting may prove worthwhile.”
“We shall see,” Thrawn said. “The conference room is this way.”
The conference room, when they finally reached it, turned out to be little more than a pilots’ briefing compartment. The refreshments that had been laid out were plain and perfunctory, probably from the same pilots’ mess.
Thrawn hadn’t introduced his subordinates, either. Fortunately, both Arihnda and Yularen already knew Vanto, and the other woman by default and rank had to be Chimaera’s captain, Commander Faro.
Mentally, Arihnda shook her head. After all this time, Thrawn still didn’t have a solid handle on the political requirements of his position.
“We understand you’ve pinpointed the insurgents’ main Batonn stronghold,” Yularen said as they sat down around the table. “The Creekpath Mining and Refining complex outside Paeragosto City.”
“Yes.” Thrawn’s eyes flicked to Vanto. “While the freighters that fled from Scrim Island landed in different locations on the continent, Commander Vanto was able to sort out shipping vectors that indicated their cargoes ultimately ended up in Creekpath.”
Arihnda felt her stomach tighten. “And of course, you’re planning to go in there in force.”
“I don’t see that we have a choice, Governor,” Commander Faro said. “The complex’s shield blocks orbital assault.”
“Even if it did not, there are approximately thirty thousand civilians within the complex’s boundaries,” Thrawn added.
“Yes, I know,” Arihnda said. “Two of those civilians are my parents.”
Those disturbing red eyes narrowed. “I see.”
“Which is not necessarily all bad,” Yularen said. “Governor Pryce has for obvious reasons been following events on Batonn very closely. Two days ago she came to me with a proposal.” He gestured. “Governor?”
“It’s very simple, Admiral,” Arihnda said, slipping her voice, expression, and body language into what she liked to call Persuasion Mode. “I visited my parents several times when I worked for Senator Renking. I know some of the people down there, and my parents probably know most of them. I want to go down there, reacquaint myself with my parents and their friends, and get a close-up look at the insurgents’ defenses and weapons setup. That way, when you send in your forces, they won’t go in blind.”
“Depending on the setup, they might even get a crack at the shield generator,” Yularen pointed out. “Taking that down would make this operation considerably easier.”
“Yes,” Thrawn said, eyeing Arihnda closely. “A question. When you last visited Batonn you were a senator’s aide. Now you’re an Imperial governor. Your position and reputation may precede you.”
“They won’t,” Arihnda said. “I can wear a disguise, but the simple fact is that for most people expectations override observations. They won’t be expecting to see Governor Pryce of Lothal, so they won’t see her.”
“Your parents will know.”
For a second Arihnda flashed back to that terrible day on Lothal, the day she’d had to tell her parents that they would have to leave their home, maybe for years, maybe forever. She’d talked long and hard during those three hours: cajoling and arguing, extolling the opportunity they were being given while warning of the dangers if they refused Renking’s offer, promising she would help in the future while conceding she was helpless in the present. In the end she’d persuaded them, and they’d moved to Batonn, eventually settling into their new life with reasonable comfort and contentment.
But it was Arihnda who’d persuaded them. Not Renking and his threats, but Arihnda.
“Don’t worry about them,” she assured Thrawn. “I’ll make sure they keep quiet.”
“I assume you’re not going alone,” Vanto put in.
“Of course not,” Arihnda said. Though that was, in fact, exactly what she’d been hoping to do. She’d argued long and hard with Yularen before ultimately being forced to concede the point. “One of Colonel Yularen’s men will go with me.”
“The story will be that they’re hunting down a friend who’s gotten mixed up in the mine situation,” Yularen said. “That gives them a reasonable excuse to come into a potential combat zone, and to persuade her parents to get her past the insurgent checkpoints.”
“It also does not require her to take either side in the dispute,” Thrawn said. “All to the best, since we do not know which side her parents support.”
Arihnda felt her lip twitch. She hadn’t thought about that point. “I’m sure they’re loyal to the Empire.”
“Perhaps, Thrawn said. “Nightswan is quite persuasive. I must also point out that even with an ISB escort this will be a dangerous undertaking.”
“I’ll be fine,” Arihnda insisted. “More important, you need the information.”
“The co
llecting of which you’re hardly an expert on,” Faro pointed out. “It seems to me that limits your value.”
Arihnda had to smile at that. If Faro only knew how good she was at collecting information. “One: Agent Gudry is trained in those things,” she said. “He knows how to pull up the raw data. Two: I know mines, mining, and refining. I’ll know what equipment is supposed to be in those facilities and what isn’t, and what’s worth tagging for orbital destruction and what isn’t. Between his gathering and my sifting, we’ll be a very effective team.” She looked at Thrawn. “The most effective, I daresay, that you can get on such short notice.”
Thrawn eyed her a moment, then shifted his gaze to Yularen. “Do you vouch for this Agent Gudry, Colonel?”
“Absolutely,” Yularen said. “He’s highly competent, both as an investigator and as a protector. He’ll keep her safe. Count on it.”
Thrawn was silent another moment. Then he gave a microscopic nod. “Very well. How do you intend to get her to the mine?”
“I’ll take her to Dennogra and put her and Gudry aboard the regional planet-hopper,” Yularen said. “They’ll come in to Paeragosto City like any other visitors.”
“I see,” Thrawn said. He still had his doubts, Arihnda could tell. But he also knew he had limited power over what an Imperial governor did, especially when that governor already had ISB’s blessing. “Time frame?”
“We can have her to Dennogra and back to Batonn in twelve hours.” Yularen glanced at his chrono. “That should get her to Creekpath about two hours before sunset, local time.” He nodded behind him. “From the looks of your light cruisers, I doubt you’d be ready to take any action before then anyway.”
Arihnda pursed her lips. Yularen was right on that score, certainly. Their corvette had passed close to one of the cruisers on their way in, and the damaged ship’s entire flank was a solid mass of maintenance tugs and huge repair barges. From what they’d seen of the other two cruisers, positioned far from the Chimaera where they’d be out of the way of any firefights, those weren’t in any better shape.
“The cruisers were more heavily damaged in the ion cannon attack than was first thought,” Thrawn conceded. “Still, their state of repair is largely irrelevant, as they would be of little use in a ground assault.”
“Unless Nightswan also has a space component to his plan,” Yularen warned. “Remember that Admiral Kinshara reported most of the insurgents’ ships had already left Denash when the Hundred Twenty-Fifth arrived.”
“That report merely repeated the statements of his prisoners,” Thrawn reminded him. “The presence or number of insurgent ships that were in the system has yet to be independently confirmed.”
“Maybe,” Yularen said. “You’ll still want to keep a close watch on the sky.”
“I always do, Colonel,” Thrawn assured him with a small smile. “For the record, I disapprove of Governor Pryce’s plan, on both safety and effectiveness issues. However, as I am sure she is prepared to remind me, Batonn and Paeragosto City are not yet considered full military zones, which limits my authority over her movements there.”
“And yet, disapproving or not, I know I can count on your instant assistance if there’s trouble,” Arihnda said. Her long years of political combat had taught her that being gracious in victory never hurt. “For that, Admiral, I thank you.”
Thrawn inclined his head to her. “Governor.” He looked at Yularen. “Will you be returning to the Chimaera after you take Governor Pryce and Agent Gudry to Dennogra?”
“Sadly, I have urgent business elsewhere,” Yularen said. “But I trust we’ll meet again soon.”
“I will look forward to it,” Thrawn said. “You will provide the comms and data collectors that Governor Pryce and Agent Gudry will need?”
“Yes, and I’ll coordinate with Commander Vanto on frequencies and passcodes,” Yularen said.
“Very well.” Thrawn again inclined his head to Arihnda. “Success with your mission, Governor. Be cautious, and be safe.”
“And bring back useful data,” Yularen added. “Better yet, see if you can take down the shield. Make things a lot simpler.”
“Don’t worry,” Arihnda assured both of them. “We’ll do our best.”
—
“…and the passcodes will decrypt anything they send back,” Yularen said, handing Eli a data card as they walked toward the hangar bay.
“Thank you,” Eli said, slipping the card into his datapad and giving it a quick check. Everything seemed to be in order. “I presume you want this kept isolated from the rest of the ship’s computer system?”
“If possible,” Yularen said. “It’s one of ISB’s best encryptions, and we really don’t want it wandering around the galaxy by itself.”
“Understood,” Eli said, pulling the card from his datapad. The docking tunnel entrance was just ahead, and Governor Pryce had already drawn away from the others, picking up her pace as she headed toward it. She really was anxious to get this mission started. “Admiral Thrawn’s already been in contact with the Imperial forces on the ground. They’ll be ready to move if and when Governor Pryce and her escort find them a soft way in.”
“Yes,” Yularen said, his voice going subtly odd. “Governor, go on in and get settled. I need a quick word with Commander Vanto.”
Pryce sent a slightly puzzled look over her shoulder but disappeared into the tunnel without comment.
“A problem, Colonel?” Eli asked quietly.
“I don’t know,” Yularen said. “Can you tell me who set up the positioning of the Chimaera and the rest of the task force?”
“I believe the admiral did that himself. Why?”
“Because it’s decidedly nonstandard,” Yularen said. “In fact, it’s borderline insane.” He gestured. “Your three light cruisers are at the corners of an equilateral triangle nearly a hundred kilometers on a side. That means they’re not only too far from your flagship, but too far from one another. None of them can support the others, and none of them are within covering range of the Chimaera.”
“They’re not exactly fit for battle at the moment,” Eli said. Still, he’d wondered about the placement himself. Thrawn’s explanation had been that he wanted plenty of space around each of the cruisers so that the huge and bulky repair barges he’d brought into the system from somewhere wouldn’t get in one another’s way.
But was that an explanation? Or was it simply an excuse?
“Their lack of combat capability is precisely my point,” Yularen said. “As I said: They can’t support the Chimaera, and the Chimaera can’t support them. They’re basically belly-up turtles surrounded and hemmed in by other belly-up turtles. A few armed ships popping out of hyperspace, and you’ll be down by one cruiser and a whole lot of support ships. Three forces attacking in unison, and all three ships and support clusters would be gone.”
“Not in unison,” Eli murmured. “They’d come in sequence. Shyrack, then Flensor, then Tumnor. They’d want to give the Chimaera just enough time to turn its turbolasers toward one cruiser before the second was attacked.”
“I see you’re learning to think tactically,” Yularen said. “The question is, why isn’t Thrawn doing the same?”
“I’m sure he is,” Eli said.
But Yularen was right on all counts. Which left only one reason Eli could think of why the cruisers had been set that far away.
They were Thrawn’s equivalent of traffic zags. Something to slow down a sneak attack by encouraging the raiders to deal with a tempting trio of outlying ships while the Chimaera came to full combat readiness.
Only the bait was helpless…which meant that any attack would instantly degenerate into a slaughter.
Eli felt his throat tighten. Thrawn wouldn’t do something that coldhearted. Surely he wouldn’t.
“Well, I for one can’t see the logic in this one,” Yularen said darkly. “But I suppose that’s his business, not mine. All I’m saying is that you should keep an eye on things. Nightswan…I’ve
had the feeling ever since that first tibanna gas encounter that the man’s gotten under Thrawn’s skin. Deeper, probably, than the admiral would ever admit. With him orchestrating this whole thing, I’m not at all sure how clearly Thrawn’s thinking.”
“He’s thinking just fine,” Eli said firmly. “And whatever he does, it’ll be for the good of the Empire.”
“I hope so,” Yularen said. “Keep an eye on him anyway.” With a final, lingering look behind them, Yularen headed into the tunnel.
Leaving Eli alone in the passageway. With new and disturbing thoughts.
He waited until the corvette was safely on its way. Then, fingering Yularen’s data card, he headed for the bridge.
He would watch Thrawn, all right. He would watch everyone.
Because Nightswan was somewhere in the area, with some plan of action already in place.
And as Thrawn himself had pointed out, the man was quite persuasive.
Each person has goals. Some of those goals are open, visible to all who care to observe. Others are more private, shared only with one’s closest friends or associates.
Some are dark secrets that one hopes will never see the light of day.
But eventually, inevitably, those deepest goals must be made manifest if they are to be reached. They must be opened for someone to hear, or see, or offer assistance.
Everyone who brings those goals into the light must be prepared for either acceptance or rejection. And he must be ready to bear the consequences.
All of them.
—
Back aboard the Chimaera, Thrawn had said that Paeragosto City wasn’t yet a full military zone.
If it wasn’t, Arihnda had no interest in tackling the real thing.
The first gauntlet was at the spaceport, where everyone leaving the transport had to show ID and answer some questions on their purpose for visiting Batonn in general and Paeragosto City in particular. After that was the Batonn Defense Force soldiers and navy troopers who’d set up a roadblock on the main road leading from the city to the Creekpath mining complex. It didn’t look like they’d set up a full cordon yet, but Arihnda guessed it was just a matter of time and numbers. And finally there was a checkpoint just under the edge of Creekpath’s shield, this one guarded by what appeared to be a mixed group of insurgents, malcontents, excitement seekers, and flat-out paid-for mercenaries and would-be mercenaries.
