Alliances (Star Wars: Thrawn, #2)(14)

“I see.” Anakin gazed at the ground, clenching his artificial hand tightly. If Thrawn was right, that would put Duja’s departure at just about the time Padmé arrived. Could the two women have gone off together?

But why hadn’t they contacted him? Or had Padmé tried and the message simply had not made it to Coruscant? Either way, why had Padmé left her ship here in the middle of nowhere instead of in a better-monitored landing field, or even in orbit around the planet? Had Duja found evidence of imminent threat?

“There are no further answers here,” Thrawn said. “The nearest native outpost is approximately thirty kilometers away.”

“Black Spire?”

“Yes,” Thrawn said. “I suggest we travel there and seek information.”

“Sounds reasonable.” Anakin hesitated. “You said your shuttle had room for two?”

“It does,” Thrawn said. “There’s a landing area three kilometers west of the outpost. I’ll land there and we can take a ground vehicle the rest of the way.”

“Okay.” Anakin looked at R2-D2. “Head back to the ship,” he ordered. “Have it ready to fly if we need backup.” He looked back at Thrawn. “Let’s go, Commander.”





Finally, just over three hours past Faro’s original estimate, the Chimaera reached Batuu.

Grand Admiral Thrawn, she knew, would recognize the delay as being due to unknown factors and the general uncertainties of travel in inadequately charted territory. Lord Vader, she suspected, would put it down to incompetence, either hers or her crew’s.

Both assessments rankled.

“I assume you have a plan, my lord?” Thrawn asked as Vader joined them on the command walkway.

For a moment the Dark Lord gazed out the forward viewport in silence. Possibly thinking; possibly doing one of those Force things that Faro had never quite believed in and certainly never trusted.

Especially not from here. Thrawn had ordered the Chimaera to come out of lightspeed at a healthy distance from the planet, and as a result Batuu was a barely visible dot glinting in the light from the even more distant sun.

Mentally, she shook her head. Vader could talk all he wanted about how the Emperor could sense things all the way back at Coruscant, but Faro wasn’t buying any of it. In her opinion, it was overblown rhetoric masking private information sources or simple deductions.

“The disturbance we seek is on the surface,” Vader said. “Commodore Faro, prepare to take us to orbit.”

Thrawn’s hand moved at his side, subtly belaying the order. “If I may suggest, my lord,” he said, “there may be hostile beings down there. If so, the arrival of a Star Destroyer may be counterproductive.”

“It will show them the power of the Empire,” Vader rumbled.

“It may also drive them underground,” Thrawn pointed out.

“You fear the effort that would be needed to extract them?”

“I note that the effort would be time consuming,” Thrawn said. “Our orders were to proceed at all due speed.” He gestured toward the planet. “Besides, it is often wise to conceal one’s full capabilities from potential enemies.”

For a long moment, the two faced each other in silence. Thrawn’s expression was calm and respectful; Vader’s was as always invisible behind his mask. “What then do you suggest?” the Dark Lord asked at last.

“You and I go alone,” Thrawn said. “I have a small freighter that will allow us anonymity. We can land—”

“Anonymity?” Vader interrupted scornfully. “Do you truly believe I can travel anywhere in the Empire without being recognized?”

“Anywhere in the Empire, no,” Thrawn said, his expression still calm. “But this edge of the Outer Rim is Imperial in name only. There is every chance you can pass unknown among the people down there.”

For another, even longer moment, there was silence. Faro held her breath, aware that Commander Kimmund had entered the bridge and was striding toward them, his white armor in gleaming contrast with the darker hues of the naval uniforms around him. Vader had made his disdain for Thrawn abundantly clear throughout the voyage, hinting at the Atollon failure every chance he got.

In fact, among Faro’s fellow officers, there was quiet speculation that Vader would at some point simply declare himself the Chimaera’s master, no matter what navy protocol said. If that ever happened, having Kimmund on the bridge would certainly make the takeover easier to enforce.

Was that why Kimmund was here? Was this the moment that was going to happen?

To Faro’s relief, Vader merely inclined his head. “Very well,” he said. “Commodore Faro, prepare Admiral Thrawn’s freighter.”

“At once, my lord,” Faro said, pushing back her fears and relief as she pulled out her comlink. Senior Lieutenant Xoxtin had been extra prickly ever since the two of them had had their little talk, and it would save trouble all around if the commodore gave the order directly.

But at least the tension between Thrawn and Vader had subsided. For the moment.

“Commander Kimmund?” Vader called.

“My lord?” Kimmund responded briskly, taking a last step to Vader’s side and coming to attention.

“You will go to the hangar deck and supervise the preparation of Admiral Thrawn’s transport,” Vader ordered.