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:
“We know of no one called Jixtus,” the Nikardun said.
“Perhaps not,” Qilori said. “He and his people are content to keep to the shadows. But I can affirm that he was the one who guided General Yiv’s conquests, here at Rapacc as well as elsewhere across the region.”
There was a short pause. “Was this Jixtus also the one who brought General Yiv to his doom?”
“No, of course not,” Qilori said. “General Yiv was overwhelmed by massive forces beyond even his ability to withstand.”
Which wasn’t at all what had happened, of course. But it would sit better with a group of Nikardun survivors than the true story of how Yiv was defeated. “But with the arrival of the Kiljis, the Nikardun now have the chance to rise again.”
“How would this be?”
“Under the guidance of Jixtus, they will—”
“Enough,” Crofyp growled. “The Nikardun are defeated, Pathfinder, and will never again arise. Speak lies and soothings when it is only your time that you waste. We are the Kiljis, and we will take what we want. Move from our path, Nikardun, or die.”
“Then you do not in fact serve with Jixtus, as the Pathfinder said?” the Nikardun asked, his voice still calm.
“The Pathfinder told you what you wanted to hear,” Crofyp said contemptuously. “Here is the enlightened truth. Yiv did not serve with Jixtus, but under Jixtus, as a slave serves under a master. Nor are the Kiljis associates of Jixtus, but his masters. We use him as a guide and adviser to our voyages, nothing more.”
“On what subjects does he advise you?”
“He identifies which of the ignorant peoples of this region require enlightenment,” Crofyp said, his voice going icy. “Your Nikardun remnant will be one of those, have no fear. But that task will be for later. For now, we merely require that the refugees who fled from their world and now hide here among the Paccosh be handed over to us.”
Qilori’s winglets twitched. Refugees? This was the first time Crofyp had mentioned refugees.
“What do you want with the refugees?” the Nikardun asked. His voice had changed subtly, Qilori noticed, as if he’d boosted the clarity, focus, or overall power of his transmission.
“Are you deaf as well as unenlightened?” Crofyp demanded. “Like all others, they walk in darkness. We are here to take them to a place where they can be enlightened.”
“Can you not enlighten them here?” the Nikardun asked. “They are useful servants to us. We don’t wish to lose them.”
“The wishes of the unenlightened are of no importance,” Crofyp said. “Do you move aside, or do you die?”
“You who claim to offer enlightenment seem all too willing to extinguish the lives of those who need your guidance,” the Nikardun said pointedly. “But no matter. I accede to your demands. The Nikardun warship Aelos will lead the way. Prepare to follow as I guide you through our orbital defenses.”
“I need no guide,” Crofyp said. “I need you merely to stand aside.”
“The defenses are subtle and mighty,” the Nikardun insisted. “Without a guide, you will quickly be overcome.”
Crofyp growled deeply in the back of his throat. “Move aside,” he ordered. “I will not tell you again.”
“I have my orders,” the Nikardun said. “I must stand firm until assistance arrives.”
“Then you will die where you stand.”
With a flick of his finger he cut off the Anvil’s transmission. “Vassal Four, signal Colonel Tildnis that upon my signal Hammer is to move past the Aelos along its portside and continue on to the planet,” he ordered. “Vassal One: Prepare to likewise move us past the Aelos along its starboard side. If the Nikardun moves into our path, Vassal Three, you are to destroy him.”
“I obey,” Vassal One acknowledged.
“I obey,” Vassal Three added.
Qilori’s winglets twitched. Crofyp was in an arrogant mood, with his maneuver clearly calculated to show both dominance and contempt for the Aelos. Certainly there was reason for both—the blockade frigate was smaller and less well armed than either of the two Kilji cruisers. No match for either, let alone both.
But at the same time, passing on its flanks was practically an invitation for the Nikardun to open fire on both ships, with the Kiljis forced to restrict their own counterfire lest they overshoot and hit each other. If the Nikardun was willing to sacrifice himself and his ship, he could do significant damage to the Kilji force. “General, if I may suggest—”
“You may not,” Crofyp cut him off. “Never forget, Pathfinder, that you and your kind are also in need of enlightenment. The more you demonstrate the darkness of your current path, the more tempted I become to move you to the top of the Illumine’s list. Is that how you desire this day to end?”
“No, General,” Qilori said, fighting to keep his winglets from spasming. He still had no idea what Kilji enlightenment consisted of, but anything decided on by generals and administered beneath the weapons of warships was unlikely to be pleasant.
“I didn’t think so,” Crofyp said. “Vassal One: As soon as the Nikardun moves to attack, execute my order.”
“I obey.”
“Why isn’t he moving?” Crofyp demanded.
Qilori’s winglets settled into a frown. Crofyp was right—the Nikardun was just sitting there. What was he waiting for?
“General, a new ship has appeared to starboard,” Vassal Two put in suddenly from the sensor station. “Unknown configuration.”
“The ship is hailing us,” Vassal Four added. He touched a switch—
“Unidentified ships, this is Senior Captain Thrawn of the Chiss Expansionary Defense Fleet warship Springhawk,” an all-too-familiar voice said from the Anvil’s bridge speaker. “You stand near our prey. Move clear of the Nikardun blockade frigate Aelos or suffer the humiliation of becoming collateral damage.”
“I’d like to say you’re in trouble,” Thrass commented. “But in all honesty, I can’t.”
Thrawn shrugged as he moved one of his firewolves across the Tactica playing board laid out on the game café table between them. “I appreciate the vote of confidence in my game,” he said. “I’d like to say in turn that you’re playing far better than you did at our last session. Unlike you, however, I can honestly do so.”
“And I appreciate that, as well,” Thrass said, looking pointedly at the two holding zones along the sides of the board. “Though all the compliments in the universe can’t hide the fact I’m still down a firewolf and a whisperbird.”
“But you’re up three stingflies,” Thrawn reminded him. “Not a bad showing for someone who only learned the game eight weeks ago.”
“And I’ll never know how I ever let you talk me into this,” Thrass said, mock-crossly. “A game that plays to all of your strengths and against all of mine? Foolish syndic that I am.”
“Really,” Thrawn said, mock-chiding. “I thought tactics and strategy were basic tools of the trade in the Syndicure.”
“Oh, they’re important enough,” Thrass agreed. He moved his groundlion, tapped one of Thrawn’s stingflies, and took it off the board. “But not as important as verbal skills and basic theatrics.”
“Yes, I’ve seen the Syndicure in action,” Thrawn said drily. “Perhaps in full voice would be a more accurate description.” He moved his nightdragon, tapped the groundlion, and handed it to Thrass. “You’ll want to put this beside the whisperbird,” he added, pointing to Thrass’s holding zone. “They’ll be better able to support each other if you decide on a sortie.”