“You know perfectly well which one,” Zistalmu said, his eyes shifting to Thrawn. “The unauthorized intrusion into an alien system, and the subsequent attack on alien ships in that system.”
“First of all, the Springhawk’s mission to the Rapacc system was not unauthorized,” Ba’kif said. “As you know, there was an attack on the edge of the Dioya system—”
“An attack against aliens,” Zistalmu cut in. “Meanwhile, the question of the attack on Csilla—an attack launched against actual Chiss citizens—has yet to be resolved.”
“I trust you’re not suggesting the fleet is incapable of handling more than one investigation at a time,” Ba’kif said, putting some stone into his voice.
“Not at all,” Zistalmu said. “But if investigation was the goal, I would submit that Captain Thrawn’s attack at Rapacc went far beyond his orders and mandate. Yet I see no indication that a tribunal has been seated or even scheduled.”
“The Springhawk was attacked,” Ba’kif said. “Standing orders allow him the right of defense.”
“Within very narrow and sharply delineated limits,” Thurfian put in. “But that’s the past, and a matter for a tribunal. Our major concern is for the future. So I ask again: Does this proposed mission relate to the Rapacc attack?” He threw an accusing look at Thrawn. “Time is not so long, nor memory so short, that we’ve forgotten his old Lioaoin fiasco.”
“I’m hardly likely to forget it, either,” Thrawn said quietly.
Quietly, but Ar’alani could hear the hidden embarrassment and ache in his voice. “I trust you aren’t here just to scrub at old wounds,” she put in, hoping to draw some of Zistalmu’s attack in her direction.
It was a waste of effort. Thurfian merely shot her a brief, unreadable look, then returned his attention to his primary target. “As I already stated, we’re looking to the future, not the past,” he said. “We understand you claim to have found Lioaoin paintings or sculptures or some such on that illegally seized ship. I trust, Supreme General, you’re not seriously thinking of letting Captain Thrawn anywhere near the Lioaoin Regime.”
“Why not?” Ba’kif asked. “The Lioaoi certainly hold their share of blame for what happened back then.”
“So you are sending him to the heartworld,” Zistalmu said, pouncing on the words like a groundlion. “Are you mad?”
“I believe the Nikardun have moved into the Lioaoin Regime,” Thrawn said. “We need to know whether the Lioaoi have been completely subjugated, or whether they still stand against their would-be conquerors.”
“We need to know nothing of the kind,” Thurfian retorted. “What happens outside our borders is none of our business. As I thought was made clear to you the first time you meddled in that region’s affairs.”
“And when the Nikardun arrive in the Ascendancy?” Thrawn asked.
“If the Nikardun arrive in the Ascendancy,” Thurfian shot back.
“Exactly,” Zistalmu seconded. “Really, Captain Thrawn. Someone of your vaunted tactical expertise can surely see that if we were such an enticing target, they would have moved against us already. It seems obvious to me that the stories told about us out in the Chaos have warned them away.”
“Unless they’re waiting until they have enough strength to defeat us,” Ba’kif said.
“Fine,” Zistalmu said. “Let’s look at that possibility, shall we? You claim the Nikardun are subjugating other species and creating an empire. Correct?”
“We’ve seen evidence of such activity, yes,” Ba’kif said.
“And controlling a conquered species requires force and the presence of arms, does it not?”
Ar’alani felt a sour taste in her mouth. She could see where Zistalmu was going with this.
As, too, could Ba’kif. “It may require less than you imagine,” the general said. “If the planet is sufficiently subjugated, a few monitoring ships and a small ground contingent could easily suffice.”
“Especially if they utilize a system of hostages or extortion,” Ar’alani added.
“The point remains that as they move toward us, they continue to bleed ships and troops,” Zistalmu said. “So the longer they wait, the less likely they are to be a threat.”
Ba’kif shook his head. “It doesn’t always work that way.”
But it was a losing argument, Ar’alani could see from the expressions on the syndics’ faces. It might be a true argument, but it was also a losing one.
“Yet that, too, is a conversation for another day,” Thurfian said. “Since Captain Thrawn’s ship is still undergoing repairs, and Admiral Ar’alani’s is about to leave on a diplomatic mission, it would seem that nobody will be traveling to the Lioaoin Regime.”
“Excuse me?” Ba’kif said, shooting a look at Ar’alani. “What diplomatic mission is this?”
“The Ascendancy is sending a new ambassador to Urch, the capital of the Urchiv-ki,” Thurfian said. “As the Vigilant is one of the finest warships in the Expansionary Fleet, and as its commander is one of the fleet’s finest officers”—he inclined his head to Ar’alani—“it was decided that ship and commander would play host to Ambassador Boadil’par’gasoi.”
“I see,” Ba’kif said, his tone going frosty. “And when were we to be informed of this decision?”
“You’re being informed now, General,” Zistalmu said evenly. “The Vigilant will leave in three days.”
Ba’kif looked at Ar’alani. “Can you be ready that quickly?”
“We can,” Ar’alani said, trying to keep her own irritation out of her voice. The Syndicure was not supposed to pull stunts like this.
On the other hand, maybe they’d missed an angle. The Springhawk’s repairs were supposed to take another two weeks, and Zistalmu was clearly expecting Thrawn to be out of commission that long. But much of the ship’s damage was cosmetic, and as the Springhawk’s captain Thrawn could declare the ship ready to fly without those particular repairs being completed. If he did, by the time the Vigilant left for Urch he could be nearly ready to pull the Springhawk out of bluedock and slip away for a surreptitious visit to the Lioaoin Regime.
“Sadly, though, Sky-walker Ab’begh has been reassigned,” Zistalmu continued. “However, as the Springhawk won’t be going anywhere for at least a couple of weeks, Sky-walker Che’ri and Caregiver Thalias have been transferred to your command.”