Still, it was an intriguing question. Two Chiss ships…an unknown number of opponents…a tactical reason…“It will certainly be easier to evaluate the Lioaoin tactics when they only have two of us to shoot at,” he commented, stalling for time while he tried to think. Two Chiss ships…
“Exactly,” Thrawn said, inclining his head. “Well done, Mid Captain.”
Samakro blinked. “That was it?”
“Of course,” Thrawn said. “It comes down to minimizing variables. It would be even easier if we’d brought only one ship, but we didn’t think the Council would accept that.”
“But you say the Syndicure was all for it?”
Thrawn’s gaze drifted away. “Some of the syndics were reluctant to launch any attack at all, believing Ar’alani and I deliberately provoked the Primea incident. Others, I’m sure, believe two ships will be enough. Others…”
“Others?” Samakro prompted.
Thrawn shrugged. “I suspect a small number are hoping that both Ar’alani and I will be killed in the battle, thereby eliminating any future embarrassment we might bring to the Ascendancy.”
Samakro stared at him. “That’s…”
“Paranoid?” Thrawn offered.
“I was going to say outrageous,” Samakro said. “If the fleet has a problem with you or Admiral Ar’alani, the Council can discipline or demote you. It’s not the Syndicure’s job to meddle in those decisions.”
“But it is their job to do what’s best for the Ascendancy,” Thrawn said. “Sometimes obligations and restrictions overlap.”
“Well, if they’re looking for us to curl up and die for their convenience, they’re going to be disappointed,” Samakro said firmly. “This is the Springhawk. We don’t lose battles. Not to anyone. Guaranteed.”
“I’ll look forward to yet again proving that,” Thrawn said. “I’ll leave you the bridge now, Mid Captain. Let me know if our sky-walker needs a rest break. Otherwise, I’ll return before our rendezvous with the Vigilant.” With a final nod, he turned and retraced his steps to the hatchway.
Samakro stared at the hatch for a long moment after he left, his blood burning inside him. He didn’t especially like Thrawn. He certainly didn’t like the way he skated to the edge of the line and occasionally blew straight past it. Sometimes he left chaos and messes behind him that other people had to clean up, and Samakro hated that, too.
But he also had no damn interest in the Aristocra, the syndics, or anyone else outside the fleet chain of command interfering with military matters. The Springhawk and Vigilant would go to the Lioaoin heartworld as ordered, they would deliver the Ascendancy’s message, and they would return. Both of them.
And with any luck, they would return covered with honor. Because that, too, was how the Springhawk did things.
Guaranteed.
* * *
—
The two ships reached the rendezvous system, an easy jump-by-jump from the Lioaoin heartworld. There the commanders and their senior officers met aboard the Vigilant for a final briefing and consultation.
Samakro wondered if either Ar’alani or Thrawn would mention their private goal of delivering the Chiss message with as little damage to the Lioaoi as possible. But neither of them did.
Probably just as well, he decided. This whole thing was tangled enough without dragging in any last-minute complications.
The conference ended, and the Springhawk’s officers returned to their ship. Che’ri and the Vigilant’s sky-walker were taken off their respective bridges and ensconced in their suites out of immediate harm’s way. Ar’alani gave the order, and the ships entered hyperspace for the final jump.
And then they were there.
“Status reports,” Thrawn called calmly from his command chair.
“All systems ready,” Samakro said, pacing back and forth behind the helm, weapons, defense, and sensor stations. “Counting twelve Lioaoin midsized warships in low orbit. Vigilant is moving inward.”
“Lieutenant Commander Azmordi, keep us in formation,” Thrawn ordered. “Let’s see how long it takes them to notice us.”
“Four of the warships rising from orbit,” Dalvu reported from the sensor station, her fingers tapping at keys. “Make that six…no; make it all twelve.”
“Not long at all, apparently,” Thrawn said conversationally.
“You’d think they had a guilty conscience,” Samakro commented, trying to keep his voice steady. Two warships that size would be trivial for the Vigilant and Springhawk to handle. Four would be reasonable. Six would be a stretch.
Twelve…
“They’re trying to frighten us away,” Thrawn said, as if he’d sensed Samakro’s sudden concerns. Or more likely, he’d sensed the entire bridge crew’s concerns. “Don’t worry, they aren’t all coming for us.”
“Certainly looks like they are,” Dalvu said under her breath.
“Watch your tone, Mid Commander,” Samakro admonished her quietly. “The senior captain knows what he’s talking about.”
“Perhaps you should explain to her why they’ll send no more than four ships against us,” Thrawn invited.
Samakro frowned, eyeing the ships. What was Thrawn seeing that he wasn’t?
He smiled suddenly. It wasn’t anything his commander was seeing, but simple tactical logic. “Because the Chiss have a reputation,” he said. “The Lioaoin High Command knows all about it, and won’t believe the Ascendancy has sent only two ships to slap them down for their attack at Primea. They’ll assume we’re either a diversion or part of a larger encirclement force. Either way, they’ll want to keep the bulk of their force close in for protection.”
“Exactly,” Thrawn said. “Watch for four of the ships to continue toward us, while the rest deploy in a defensive high-orbit pattern.”
A light blinked on the comm console. “Admiral is hailing them,” Samakro reported.
Thrawn nodded. “Let’s hear what she has to say.”
The comm officer touched a switch. “This is Admiral Ar’alani of the Chiss Expansionary Defense Fleet, commanding the Vigilant,” Ar’alani’s clear voice came over the bridge speaker. “Forces of the Lioaoin Regime have knowingly and with prejudice attacked a ship of the Chiss Ascendancy. Have you any explanation to offer before we pass judgment?”
Silence. “I say again,” Ar’alani said, then repeated the message.