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:
“You won’t see anything,” Ba’kif said, a hint of acid in his tone. “After the initial report went out, someone in the Council apparently decided there was no reason to panic the public, so the notifications were withdrawn.”
“With all respect, Supreme General, that was a stupid decision,” Ar’alani said. “The whole idea of alerts is so that the military can be ready if potential trouble appears. We can’t do that if we don’t know about it.” She held up her comm. “And the public doesn’t see these anyway.”
“I know,” Ba’kif said. “But the warship was reported to be peace-sealed, and it left Avidich two hours after it arrived, so—”
“It left?” Ar’alani interrupted. “Who authorized that?”
“Apparently, the Mitth Patriel told them they could go, and Patrol Command didn’t object,” Ba’kif said. “Though they didn’t have much choice, given that the alien hadn’t attacked anyone or even behaved aggressively.”
“They could at least have tried to keep it there until a Defense Force ship could be sent.”
“Actually, the Venturous was already en route,” Ba’kif said. “But the alien was gone when it arrived.” His lip twitched. “And as I said, they hadn’t been the least bit hostile.”
Ar’alani unclenched her teeth. No, Patrol Command probably hadn’t had any other option.
In general, she agreed with the strict Ascendancy policy of never taking the first shot, even when facing a blatant threat. But there were times when she sympathized with Thrawn’s view that allowing an enemy to control the timing and location of hostilities was foolish. “So it’s still wandering around?”
“Apparently,” Ba’kif said. “But all Patrol Commands are on the alert, and the Defense Force has ships ready to move if and when it shows up again.”
“I hope they’re faster on the uptake than they were this time,” Ar’alani said. “You said the Mitth told them they could go?”
“Yes,” Ba’kif said. “Apparently, someone aboard had a conversation with the Mitth Patriel before they left. The topic of that discussion is still unclear, but Patriarch Thurfian has been in contact with us and is putting together a full report.”
And if any of that discussion put the Mitth in a bad light, Ar’alani had no doubt that those particular aspects would quietly disappear. “What do you want me to do, sir?”
“I had planned to ask you to put together a Sunrise task force proposal we could present to the Council,” Ba’kif said ruefully. “Even if the planet itself remains off-limits, we should be able to make a case that the Battle Dreadnought or its successors attacked you and are therefore legitimate targets.”
“But now we have an unknown alien warship poking around.”
“So it would seem,” Ba’kif said. “Which puts anything having to do with Sunrise off onto a side table.”
“Very convenient for someone.”
“I agree,” Ba’kif said. “But we’re not going to convince the Syndicure to let us focus our attention anywhere except on the Ascendancy itself.”
“I assume you’re pulling in all the Expansionary Defense Fleet ships to bolster the planetary patrols?”
“Not all of them,” Ba’kif said. “The Council and Syndicure are still working out the numbers and details. But yes, most will probably be brought back in and redeployed.” He raised his eyebrows. “The Vigilant will definitely be one of them.”
“I hope they understand that the situation at Sunrise isn’t something that can simply be set aside until a less inconvenient time,” Ar’alani warned. “Someone with serious military power is willing to take on Chiss warships in order to keep the place to themselves. We need answers, and delaying our investigation just gives our enemies more time.”
“I’m not the one you need to convince, Admiral,” Ba’kif reminded her. “Would you like me to set up a meeting with the Council or the Syndicure so you can plead your case?”
“You think it would do any good?”
“Not really, no,” Ba’kif said. “But you’re welcome to try.”
“Probably not worth the effort,” Ar’alani conceded. “So the Vigilant is going on defense duty?”
“Yes, at least for the time being,” Ba’kif said, picking up his questis and touching a key. “Ah—they’ve worked out the preliminaries. The Grayshrike … Venturous … there we go. The Vigilant’s been assigned to Sposia.”
Ar’alani wrinkled her nose. But at least Sposia was one of the Ascendancy’s more vital worlds. Better than being sent out to Kinoss or Rhigar or somewhere else on the physical or cultural fringes. “Understood, sir. With your permission, I’ll alert my officers and return to my ship.”
“Very good, Admiral,” Ba’kif said. “And I will keep up the pressure on the Council regarding Sunrise.”
“Thank you, sir.” Ar’alani stood up, straightened a moment in respect, then started to turn to the door.
And paused. “A moment, sir,” she said, turning back. “You said you’d be willing to set me up with a meeting?”
“Of course,” Ba’kif said. “Who do you want to talk to?”
Ar’alani braced herself. The supreme general, she was pretty sure, wasn’t going to like this.
The supreme general didn’t.
Enlightenment, according to an ancient Kilji dictum, was seldom an individual’s first choice. But that choice could be changed, the dictum continued, and it was the duty of each and every enlightened to facilitate each and every such change.
There was another dictum, one that spoke of those who foolishly and defiantly stood against that goal. Their fate, unlike the choice of enlightenment, could not be changed.
“You lied to me,” Nakirre said.
Jixtus’s hooded head lifted, the veiled face rising from the reading device he’d been studying. “Excuse me?”
“You lied to me,” Nakirre repeated. “Tell me now why I should not have you removed from my ship.”
For a moment Jixtus remained motionless. Then, moving slowly and deliberately, he turned off his reader and set it on the table beside him. “You make a serious charge,” he said. “Would you care to explain it?”
“You told me you would bring enlightenment to these Chiss,” Nakirre said. “Yet you permitted the Mitth Chiss to order us away without even allowing me to speak of the path to him.”
“I never said all Chiss would be enlightened,” Jixtus said. “Indeed, I expect most of them will resist to the point of leaving their dead bodies in our wake.”
“You said the defiance would come only from the leaders and commanders,” Nakirre countered. “You said those leaders would die, but that a remnant of the common people would eagerly accept enlightenment.”
“So I did,” Jixtus acknowledged. “And so they shall.”
“Yet you allowed this Mitth Chiss leader to go his way.”
“Would you have preferred I ordered the Whetstone to bombard the planet from space?” Jixtus asked.
“Why not?” Nakirre demanded. “They have nothing that holds terror for us. We’ve seen the insignificant defenders that guard their worlds. We’ve seen the larger but still pitiful warship they use to travel outside their nest of ignorance and darkness. Why not bring them enlightenment right here and now?”
For a moment Jixtus was silent. “There is a star system to the side of our current path,” he said. He picked up his reader, tapped a control, and handed the device to Nakirre. “It lies at the end of this vector. Order your vassals to take us there, and I shall answer your questions.”