Thrawn Ascendancy Book 3: Lesser Evil
- Автор: Зан Тимоти
- Год: 2021
- Язык: английский
- Год: Random House
- ISBN: 9781473596580
- Жанр: Боевая фантастика
Электронная книга - «Thrawn Ascendancy Book 3: Lesser Evil». Краткое содержание книги:
“My version has a bit more detail,” Ba’kif growled. “Apparently, the Syndicure is furious with you over your stunt at Jamiron a few hours ago. Toss that on top of the skirmish between the Grayshrike and Orisson at Ornfra, and some of the families have had enough. Irizi Syndic Zistalmu led the charge, pushing through an order for the Expansionary Defense Fleet to withdraw all its ships from worlds where any of the Nine have interests.”
“Which is all of them,” Wutroow put in.
“Basically, yes,” Ba’kif said. “Ja’fosk is appealing for calm—and common sense—but while he tries to work something out he’s pulling everyone back to Naporar.”
“He’ll need to make an exception for the Vigilant,” Ar’alani reminded him. “Thrawn wants me at Schesa.”
“Yes, but the location may not be critical,” Ba’kif said. “Thrawn didn’t know about this order when he recorded his message, after all. Why would it matter where you and the other ships rendezvous?”
“I don’t know,” Ar’alani said. “But I’ve worked with Thrawn enough to know that details are usually important.”
“Point,” Ba’kif conceded. “Let me call Ja’fosk and get you an exemption.”
“Or maybe you can suggest he leave it a little vague as to where we’re supposed to gather,” Ar’alani suggested. “As long as Naporar is at the top of the list, most ships will go there.”
“But you and whatever other captains you’re able to persuade won’t be officially violating the order,” Ba’kif said. “And if he words it properly, Syndic Zistalmu probably won’t even notice there’s a loophole. Good enough. I’ll get on that right away.”
“Thank you, sir,” Ar’alani said. “We’ll head out immediately.”
“Good luck,” Ba’kif said. “Any idea who else you’re going to ask into this madness?”
“I have some ideas,” Ar’alani said. “I’ll start with Thrawn’s friends.”
Ba’kif grunted. “I’m guessing that’s a short list.”
Ar’alani nodded heavily. “Yes. It is.”
“You realize that there’s nothing at all official about this,” Ar’alani’s voice came from Ziinda’s chair speaker.
An urgent voice. A worried voice. A determined voice.
“If we do this, we do it without orders or sanction,” the admiral continued. “We do it because we see a terrible threat looming over the Ascendancy, and we believe this to be our best and possibly only hope of defeating it.”
“I understand,” Ziinda said, looking up at Apros. Her first officer’s stance was unnaturally stiff as he stood beside her chair, his face troubled. “Mid Captain Apros? You have a comment?”
“Yes, Senior Captain,” Apros said. “First of all is the plan itself. Even if this device works the way Senior Captain Thrawn says it will—and I’m personally a bit uncomfortable with staking our hopes on a piece of alien tech—there’s still a horrible potential for death. Actually, if it works it’ll probably mean more death.”
“That’s the idea, Mid Captain,” Ar’alani said. “If we can isolate the Grysk fleet—”
“Excuse me, Admiral,” Ziinda said. There was a look in Apros’s eye that she knew all too well. “I’d like a brief consultation with my first officer.”
“Of course,” Ar’alani said. “Take as long as you need.”
“Thank you.” Ziinda touched her chair’s mute key. “Okay, Mid Captain. From your expression, I’m guessing it’s your family?”
“It’s all right, ma’am,” he assured her. “I’m all right. You need to finish your consultation with Admiral Ar’alani.”
“I need to make sure my first officer is fully aboard before I commit to anything this crazy,” Ziinda said.
“I’m aboard, Senior Captain,” Apros assured her. “This doesn’t have anything to do with the mission. I’ll be happy to talk about it later, but not right now.”
“All right,” Ziinda said, giving him one more hard look before keying her mike again. “Admiral Ar’alani?”
“I’m here, Senior Captain.”
“We’re good to go, ma’am,” Ziinda said. “What do you want us to do?”
“Thrawn wants us to rendezvous at Schesa in three days,” Ar’alani said. “Pass the word if you can. But only to those you can trust. If the Syndicure gets even a whisper of this, it’ll be over before it even starts.”
“Understood,” Ziinda said. “Is the invitation limited to Expansionary Defense Fleet ships?”
“Not necessarily,” Ar’alani said. “You have someone else in mind?”
“Maybe,” Ziinda said. “I’ll let you know.”
“Do that. Ar’alani out.”
“Comm ended, Senior Captain,” Shrent confirmed from across the bridge.
“Acknowledged,” Ziinda said. She raised her eyebrows at Apros. “All right, Mid Captain. Talk to me.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Apros winced. “But it’s going to sound stupid.”
“I’ve done more than my fair share of stupid,” Ziinda said. “Unless you’re thinking about starting a war with two other families over a non-existent nyix mine, I’m already way ahead of you on that one. So spit it out.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Apros hesitated. “The thing is … the Csap don’t get much respect in the Syndicure. We’re mostly ignored or used as bargaining levers. And we’re the butt of a lot of jokes. You’ll remember Captain Roscu’s comment at Jamiron about the Csap not being a step up.”
“You’re still one of the Ruling Families,” Ziinda reminded him.
“Yes, and we’re justly proud of that,” Apros said. “It’s just … if this works it’ll be you, Thrawn, and Ar’alani who’ll be remembered.”
“And probably brought up on charges.”
“But you’ll be remembered,” Apros repeated. “I’m willing to die for the Ascendancy, Senior Captain, and I hope that if that happens it’ll be because I’ve made a difference. But … I know it’s petty, but I don’t want that sacrifice to be forgotten.”
“I understand,” Ziinda said. “First of all. The important part of your statement is that, yes, you’ll be making a difference. That’s the whole point of this.”
“Yes, ma’am, I know.”
“As for being remembered …” Ziinda shook her head. “History isn’t ours to write, Apros. None of us know how we’ll be remembered by scholars a hundred years from now. But be assured that those who know you, who have worked with you, and who respect you will hold your memory close. Everyone else—” She gave him a small shrug. “Does it really matter?”
Apros pursed his lips. “No. No, I suppose not.”
“And look at the bright side,” Ziinda continued. “If things work out right, you might just end up being the hero your family has been waiting for all these years. The one who will finally put an end to all the Csap jokes.”
“With all due respect, Senior Captain, I think that might be pushing it,” Apros said, giving her a tentative smile. “All right, ma’am. Self-pity moment over.”
“Good,” Ziinda said. “Have Wikivv plot a course for Schesa. We’ll head out after I’ve made a couple of calls.”
“To others who might be willing to risk their lives on this ridiculous plan?”
“To others who are ready to make a difference,” Ziinda corrected. “And to be remembered by their friends.” She motioned toward the helm. “Get to work on that course, Mid Captain. We’ve got a long path ahead of us.”
He would give it all he could, Thrass remembered promising himself as he and Thrawn left the Stybla honoring ceremony. He would do it for the honor of the Mitth and the glory of the Ascendancy. Or he would die trying.