“Perhaps,” Thrawn said. “Though there are certainly transports large enough to carry such items. My conclusion is that they may be creating hyperdrives and sublight engines of a size never before seen.”
Vanto’s eyes widened in shock. “You’re saying something bigger even than a Star Destroyer?”
“From my reading of the data, considerably larger,” Thrawn said. “I confess I feel a certain foreboding at that conclusion. I’ve seen this same…omseki.”
“Syndrome.”
“I’ve seen this syndrome before,” Thrawn continued. “Star Destroyer-sized capital ships and large numbers of supporting starfighters are the most efficient and flexible naval array for both deterrent and combat. Yet there are many who consider larger to be the equivalent of better. Even the Empire has limited resources, and I fear that those resources are not always allocated wisely.”
“The realities of a large bureaucracy,” Vanto said ruefully. “Two bureaucracies, in this case, if you count both the government and the navy. There are always boondoggles—sometimes really big ones—that slip through the cracks of the review process.”
“That is unfortunately true,” Thrawn said. “Perhaps I will yet have an opportunity to express my thoughts on the strategies of such large-scale weapons systems.”
“Well, you get invited to Coruscant often enough,” Vanto pointed out. “Maybe…” He trailed off, suddenly understanding. “You know where it is, don’t you? You’ve figured out where they’re building this monstrosity.”
“I have an idea.”
“I should have guessed you would,” Vanto said. “I take it you’ve tracked Rossi’s ore freighters?”
“I was unable to discover their final destination,” Thrawn said. “However, I did find the most likely vector for the shipments.”
“Which only gives you…” Vanto smiled with fresh understanding. “But we also have the likely vector for that Wookiee slave ship. So assuming they were all headed to the same place, you crossed the vectors…?”
“And found a location,” Thrawn said. “It may not be the correct location, of course. Perhaps an opportunity to visit will present itself at some point. In the meantime, we have Botajef to deal with.”
“Yes,” Vanto said. “I presume you have a plan?”
“I do.” The galactic map disappeared, replaced by the image of a human standing behind a podium. “This is the recording of Governor Quesl’s declaration of independence thirty hours ago.”
“Yes, I’ve seen it,” Vanto said. “Speechwise, the man really lights up a room.”
“Did you notice the artwork hanging on the display wall behind him?”
“All fifty-seven pieces of it.” Vanto smiled wryly. “Yes, I counted them. I also made holos of every piece visible on that recording, in case you wanted to see what you could pull out about the man.”
“Thank you,” Thrawn said. “However, it won’t tell us anything about the governor. The artwork has been collected over the centuries by the Jefi people, and neither the pieces nor the placement have been altered by Governor Quesl.”
“Which you know because you’ve already checked the older archives,” Vanto said, a bit crestfallen. “Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time.”
“It was an excellent idea,” Thrawn said. “In other circumstances it might well have been highly useful. But I draw your attention to the governor’s words and speaking manner. What do you hear?”
“Well, he’s not shy about his goals or feelings,” Vanto said. “Makes it very clear he has no intention of keeping Botajef in the Empire.”
“Yet should he not also show some recognition of the power that will surely be brought to bear against him?”
“One would certainly think so,” Vanto said, rubbing his chin in concentration. “Now that you mention it, he’s almost daring Coruscant to come in and stop him.”
“I make a prediction,” Thrawn said. “I believe that upon our arrival we will find heavy weaponry situated around the main governmental building. I also predict that Governor Quesl will repeat his challenge directly to the Chimaera.”
“Really,” Vanto said. “And the planetary defense forces?”
“He will initially deploy them to keep the Chimaera at a distance. At some later point, they will be sent to the attack.”
“Interesting tactics,” Vanto said. “We’ll find out soon enough.”
“Indeed,” Thrawn said. “You may return to the bridge now. When you arrive, have Starfighter Commander Yve and Stormtrooper Commander Ayer report to me here. I have some final orders for them.”
—
The Chimaera reached Botajef exactly on schedule.
And damned if Thrawn hadn’t been right.
“Two CR90 corvettes rising from orbit,” Eli reported, running a quick eye over the tactical readout. “Coming in from starboard and port, possibly trying to flank us, but keeping out of effective firing range. Five squadrons of V-19 Torrent interceptors rising from the north-polar base; two more squadrons coming from south-polar.”
“Both corvettes’ weapons systems are running cold,” Faro added. “We may have taken them by surprise.”
“Reading three ground-based turbolaser clusters,” Eli said, smiling to himself. “Coordinates on tactical. Note that one of them is in the capital, five turbolasers grouped around the governor’s palace.”
“Around the palace?” Faro echoed disbelievingly. “He’s really counting on Imperial self-restraint, isn’t he?”
Eli thought back to the battle over Umbara, and the pinpoint fire the Thunder Wasp had later delivered to the pre-spice vein on Cyphar. “More likely he doesn’t understand Imperial gunner accuracy, ma’am.”
“Perhaps we will have the opportunity to instruct him,” Thrawn said. “Senior Lieutenant Yve, launch TIEs.”
“TIEs launching, Commodore,” Yve acknowledged. “Targets?”
“Send four each to the corvettes,” Thrawn ordered. “They are not to fire, but are to perform close-line flybys, two each starboard and portside. The other TIEs will move to form a screen between us and the V-19s.”
“Including the special unit, sir?”
“Yes,” Thrawn said. “They are not to fire until and unless I so order.”
“Yes, sir.” Yve turned to her board.
Eli frowned. He hadn’t heard anything about a special TIE unit. Something Thrawn and Yve had cooked up after he left Thrawn’s quarters for the bridge?
“You’re not letting the TIEs defend themselves, sir?” Faro asked.
“I am offering the Jefies one free shot, Commander,” Thrawn replied calmly. “That said, I do not believe they will make the first attack.”
“Commodore, we’re getting a signal from Governor Quesl,” Lomar called.
“Put it through.”
The comm display lit up with the same wizened, scowly face Eli had seen on the previous recording. Quesl was standing closer to the cam this time, and up close he looked even more unpleasant and shifty. “This is Governor Quesl of the free system of Botajef,” he intoned. “You have intruded into Jefi space. If you do not leave, you will be fired upon.”
“This is Commodore Thrawn, commander of the Imperial Star Destroyer Chimaera,” Thrawn said. “I’m afraid you are acting under a misapprehension, Governor. According to the treaty signed by the Jefies after the Clone War, any change in status must follow the formal rules called for in Section Eighteen, Paragraph Four.”
The wizened face drew back from the cam, and Eli caught a glimpse of the artwork hanging on the wall behind him. “What are you talking about?” he demanded. “There is no such treaty.”
On the tactical, the four TIE fighters swept past the starboard corvette as Thrawn had ordered. Eli held his breath, wondering if the corvette would see it as an attack and open fire.
Fortunately, it didn’t. Aside from a brief twitch of its bow, in fact, it made no response at all. The portside corvette was even more sanguine in the case of its starfighter flyby, without even that small reflexive twitch.