Thrawn Ascendancy Book 3: Lesser Evil

“Apparently so,” Ar’alani agreed. “Now that I think about it, the ships we saw at the refurbishing station were just the right size and shape for that kind of transformation.”

“And the big ship we thought was a mobile repair dock would have worked as a Chiss freighter,” Wutroow added.

“So what are they up to?” Ziinda asked. “And what is this Dasklo grand scheme that Roscu thinks is under way?”

“First, I think we can assume that all her suspicions about the Dasklo are wrong,” Ba’kif said. “It’s clear that Jixtus is controlling this whole narrative and manipulating everyone, including the Clarr. Maybe even especially the Clarr. You two keep talking—I’m going to drop out while I check on something.”

“Yes, sir,” Ar’alani said, thinking back over the conversation Wutroow and Roscu had just had. “All right. Roscu thinks the Dasklo are planning some aggressive military move against the Clarr. What could she have seen in the rest of Jixtus’s vid that would convince her of that?”

“I was just reviewing the free sample,” Ziinda said slowly. “Odd thought. Did you see the way the Dasklo frigate lifted its bow just a bit at the end of the vid? That looked almost like it was setting up to launch plasma spheres at the Erighal.”

“Hold on, let me check,” Ar’alani said, pulling up her copy and running it. Ziinda was right; the move was definitely there. “Could be,” she agreed. “Pretty subtle, but it’s there.”

“Or it could be setting up to aim and fire a tractor beam,” Wutroow added.

“Or it could be doing both,” Ziinda said. “You think that’s what’s on the rest of the vid? The Dasklo flickering the Erighal and then pulling it in for a close look at its hull design?”

“Maybe,” Ar’alani said. “Roscu did talk about someone picking up someone else’s ship.”

“Which would ensure they could get the hull decoratives correct,” Ziinda said.

“Right,” Ar’alani said. “She also said she didn’t think Jixtus knew exactly what had happened. At the distance the vid was taken from, a sphere barrage would barely register, even with enhancement, and a tractor would be completely invisible.”

“Only that scenario doesn’t make any sense,” Ziinda said. “The Erighal are already Dasklo allies—they wouldn’t have to go to all that effort just to get a good look at an Erighal patrol ship’s hull decoration.”

“And the Dasklo would know Erighal hull decoratives are never identical,” Ar’alani said. “All of which is moot, of course, since we’re assuming the whole vid was faked.”

“True,” Ziinda said. “A fake confrontation and fake ships, courtesy of whoever was recording the Hoxim battle.”

“They probably got patterns for the Xodlak and Pommrio ships that were there, too, while they were at it,” Ar’alani said, scowling at the vid. “And are likely also using those same recordings to study Chiss battle tactics.”

Ziinda muttered a sudden curse. “Including how to shoot at Chiss warships without doing serious damage,” she said in a chagrined voice. “That’s why those patrol ships were able to fire so uselessly at me at Jamiron. They wanted to make sure the Grayshrike survived so that there would be another witness to the battle.”

“What do you mean, fire uselessly?” Ar’alani asked, frowning. “Where did they learn that?”

“From Hoxim,” Ziinda said. “They saw how Thrawn’s gunners—” She broke off abruptly.

But it was too late. Ar’alani looked up at Wutroow, saw her expression echoing Ar’alani’s own surprise. “What did you just say?” Ar’alani asked. “Senior Captain Ziinda? What did you just say?”

“My apologies, Admiral,” Ziinda said, her voice under rigid control. “I misspoke.”

“Yes, that can happen, Senior Captain,” Ar’alani said. “Nevertheless, I’d like you to finish your sentence.”

“Admiral, I really can’t—”

“All right, I’m back,” Ba’kif’s brisk voice came from the chair speaker. “You reach any conclusions?”

Again, Ar’alani looked at Wutroow. The first officer gave an uncertain shrug and a rather helpless gesture. “Nothing but the obvious ones,” Ar’alani said, turning back to the mike. “The Battle Dreadnought aliens were apparently at Hoxim and used their recordings to create duplicates of one of the Erighal patrol ships at that battle.”

“Probably duplicated some of the others, as well,” Ba’kif said. “Though it was probably less duplication than camouflage. Unfortunately, the self-destructs of the Jamiron attackers left very little that could be identified. We’ll continue checking for genetic material and metal profiles, but that will take time.”

“Roscu said it would only be another few days,” Ar’alani murmured.

“Yes, she did,” Ba’kif said grimly. “At any rate, I’ve just taken a look at the Orisson’s travels since Jixtus first arrived at Avidich. Captain Roscu’s journey began with her checking all the Clarr strongholds and other major manufacturing, farming, and distribution centers.”