Thrawn Ascendancy Book 3: Lesser Evil

“Sensors, full scan of the newcomer,” Thrawn ordered. “Get me a configuration as quickly as you can.”

“So much for meeting someone inside the gravity well,” Roscu said. “Any other brilliant ideas, Thrawn?”

“We haven’t finished with this one yet,” Lappincyk put in. “Our projection shows that if both ships keep to their current vectors, they’ll still be inside the gravity well when they meet. Plenty of time for us to move in and take them both.”

Roscu’s snort was clearly audible. “Enough,” she said. “If that’s how you want to play it.”

And to Thrass’s disbelief, the glowing orb of a plasma sphere burst out from the Orisson’s bow, arrowing straight at the Obbic transport.

“Captain!” Lappincyk snapped.

“Too late,” Thrawn said. “Pilot: Get us moving toward the transport—full speed.”

“Senior Aide?” the pilot asked.

“Obey your commander,” Lappincyk told him tartly. “What about the other ship?”

“Captain Roscu, we need you to disable the other incoming ship,” Thrawn said into the mike as the Jandalin leapt forward.

But not as quickly as the Orisson. Even before Thrawn had finished speaking, the Clarr cruiser threw full power to its thrusters, passing the Jandalin and charging toward the transport. “Bit busy here,” Roscu said. “If you want it disabled, do it yourselves.”

“This ship isn’t equipped with plasma spheres.”

“Too bad,” Roscu said. In the distance, the sphere she’d launched intercepted the transport, flashing a momentary glow as it shut down the ship’s electronics. “Handy little things, aren’t they?”

“Captain, we need that incoming freighter disabled,” Lappincyk put in. “In the name of the Stybla, I ask you please to assist us.”

“Request denied,” Roscu said. “I suppose you’ll need to use some of that Thrawn cleverness. Have fun. Don’t worry—once we’ve got the transport, we’ll be sure to deliver your cargo back to you on Sposia.”

“That cargo is not to be touched,” Lappincyk insisted. “We’ll take it aboard the Jandalin.”

“Of course,” Roscu said, a note of malicious humor in her voice. “You’re welcome to it if you can keep up. But it looks like you can’t. Too bad the Stybla don’t have any real warships.”

“Captain, that’s our cargo.”

“I said you’d get it back,” Roscu said. “I swear, you Stybla are always so nervous.”

“Perhaps it’s time you were, as well,” Thrawn said, his voice suddenly grim. “Take another look at the newcomer.”

“What about it?”

“It’s not running,” Thrawn said. “In fact, five seconds after you launched your attack it increased its speed toward the transport. Does that sound like a criminal crew’s behavior?”

“It sounds like a criminal crew who anticipates free goodies,” Roscu said. “Don’t worry, we’ll get there before they do.”

On one of the side displays, the sensor profile of the freighter appeared. “Perhaps not,” Thrawn said. “That’s not a freighter. It’s a Paataatus light frigate.”

For a long moment there was nothing but silence. “Damn,” Roscu breathed.

“Agreed,” Thrawn said. “Pilot, can you increase speed?”

“We’re at full power, sir,” the pilot said.

“Go to emergency power,” Lappincyk ordered. “Mid Commander, all we’ve got are three spectrum lasers.”

“That should be enough,” Thrawn said. “Orisson, why are you slowing?”

Thrass felt his throat tighten. The Clarr cruiser, which a minute ago had been blazing toward the disabled transport, had now slowed its mad rush.

“Because Paataatus light frigates don’t travel alone,” Roscu said darkly. “There are bound to be a few gunboats—”

“Incoming!” the Jandalin’s pilot interrupted. “Five new ships, coming in along the freighter’s—the light frigate’s—vector.”

“Like I said,” Roscu said. “Afraid there’s nothing we can do now but destroy the transport. I’ll set up a laser barrage—”

“No!” Lappincyk snapped.

“Use your head, Senior Aide,” Roscu snapped back. “We can’t take on six Paataatus ships by ourselves. Either we destroy the transport, or we let the aliens have it. And the cargo.”

“We can’t do that,” Lappincyk said. “We have to retrieve the cargo.”

“We will,” Thrawn said, his calmness in sharp contrast with the anger and frustration in Roscu’s voice and the fear and growing panic in Lappincyk’s. “We’ll retrieve the cargo and drive away the Paataatus. Are the Clarr ready to assist, Captain Roscu?”

“You may be casual about violating Ascendancy standing orders, but I’m not,” Roscu said. “Nor am I willing to sacrifice my ship and crew in a futile and losing battle.”