Alliances (Star Wars: Thrawn, #2)(5)

“Then the fault must lie with the Chimaera’s crew,” Vader said. He steps forward. His voice perhaps holds impatience.

“With all due respect, Lord Vader, I don’t believe that to be the case,” Faro said. Her eyes turn to Vader. The stiffness of her stance increases. Her voice holds caution and a degree of fear, but also determination. “This hyperlane is sparsely traveled, and its parameters and edges are poorly defined. I believe it more likely we’ve run into the shadow of some previously unknown mass.”

“Indeed,” Vader said. His vocal pitch lowers slightly. His hands rise to his waist, his thumbs hooking into his belt. “And where is this mysterious mass?”

Faro’s throat muscles tighten briefly. “We haven’t yet located it, Lord Vader,” she said. Her eyes turn back to her admiral. “I have our best sensor operators working on the problem, sir.”

“Perhaps your best are not up to the standards of Imperial service,” Vader said.

“The Chimaera’s officers and crew are more than adequate to their tasks, Lord Vader,” Thrawn said. “Commodore, if there is indeed a wayward mass affecting us, perhaps some forward movement will take us clear of its shadow and effect.”

“Yes, sir,” Faro said. The tension in her face and voice eases noticeably. “Helm: Take us ahead at two-thirds power. Scanners: Continue to search for objects.”

“And for other ships,” Thrawn said.

Faro’s expression holds puzzlement. “Other ships, sir?”

“Do you expect us to come under attack?” Vader asked.

“It is possible, though unlikely,” Thrawn said. “My concern is that, however it was we were pulled from hyperspace, other ships may be similarly affected. We need to be wary of collisions or other encounters.”

“Commodore Faro just explained how poorly traveled this hyperlane is,” Vader said. His words are slightly clipped. “Do you truly expect a traffic level of two ships a week to present a danger?”

“That is indeed the listing on the navigational charts,” Thrawn said. “But the transit profile may have changed since those notations were made. Certainly the ship traffic was even more sparse the last time I was here.”

“You were here before, sir?” Faro asked. Her expression and voice hold surprise. “I didn’t know that.”

“Is there a reason you should, Commodore?” Vader asked.

“My apologies, Admiral,” Faro said. She speaks quickly. Her voice holds fresh anxiety.

“No apologies required, Commodore,” Thrawn said. “It was many years ago during the Clone War.”

“I see,” Faro said. The anxiety is fading, her voice and expression now holding interest. “I was unaware you were in the Republic at that time.”

“The past is the past,” Vader said. “The present and future are all that matter.” He turns, his long cloak swirling, his half-hidden lightsaber glinting in the bridge light. His hands remain hooked in his belt a moment, and then he lowers his arms to his sides. His fingers curl slightly. “I will be in my quarters. You will inform me when we are again under way.”

“Of course, Lord Vader,” Thrawn said.

“You will also inform your Noghri that my legion’s Darkhawk is off limits to him,” Vader added. “Commander Kimmund has twice caught him inside. The next time will be the last.”

“Understood, my lord,” Thrawn said. “Rukh is sometimes overzealous in his attempts to know everything that occurs aboard the Chimaera. I will so inform him.”

“There was no need for him to be aboard at all,” Vader said. His voice deepens in pitch. “If his combat and tracking skills are as good as you claim, he should have been left behind to aid Woldar and Tarkin in their hunt for Jarrus and the rebels.” His head tilts slightly. “Or do you fear for your personal safety after your confrontations on Atollon?”

Faro’s facial muscles stiffen. Her body stance holds fresh tension.

“On the contrary, Lord Vader,” Thrawn said. “With you and the First Legion aboard, the Chimaera’s safety is more than guaranteed. But there may be tasks that require all of us, including Rukh, before this mission is over.”

“The mission will be over sooner than you think,” Vader said. “We will find the disturbance, I will deal with it, and we will return to Coruscant.”

“Understood,” Thrawn said.

“Good.” Vader turns a few degrees to face the viewport. “With all speed, Admiral. I wish to see what exactly has caught the Emperor’s attention.”

“Of course, my lord,” Thrawn said. “As do I.”



* * *



—

After the first time Kimmund threw Rukh off the Darkhawk he’d ordered Trooper Sampa to rig intrusion sensors on all the hatchways. One of the sensors had successfully been triggered the second time Rukh sneaked aboard, allowing the stormtroopers on duty to catch and evict him much faster.

Kimmund was watching the Chimaera’s progress—or more properly, its lack of progress—on the First Legion ready room’s repeater displays when the sensor once again warbled its alert.

Two minutes later he was in the hangar, fully armored, blaster carbine in hand, making a quiet bet with himself as to precisely where circumstance and whim would place his first shot. He reached the Darkhawk and strode around its bow.