Alliances (Star Wars: Thrawn, #2)(94)

“Squadrons Three and Five moving to intercept,” Commodore Faro confirmed. “Looks like they’re launching fighters.”

The smaller craft emerge from their host ship in single file. The host ship’s hatch is not armored. The smaller vessels’ acceleration is low as they move to the sides to permit those behind to exit. Their drive nozzles are wide-spaced for high maneuverability, and are overly large. “They are not fighters, Commodore, but more likely tugs,” Thrawn said. “Possibly for positioning the nodes of the web.”

“Not coming to fight, but to distract us and keep the TIEs busy so they can’t get after the real targets,” Faro said. Her voice holds understanding. “So we bypass them?”

“Correct,” Thrawn said. “Target them with the Chimaera’s turbolasers, but do not fire without command. The TIEs will continue on toward the web and the larger ships.”

“Yes, sir,” Faro said. Her voice and body stance hold wariness and growing suspicion. “I find myself concerned, Admiral, that they haven’t already abandoned the moon and tried to run. Surely they realize they can’t outfight us.”

“The launching of tugs in an attempt to slow our approach would seem to indicate that,” Thrawn said. “Why might they remain?”

“I’m thinking they may be expecting reinforcements.”

“That is one possibility. Another?”

“They could think they can still escape with the moon in tow,” Faro said. “They should be clear of Mokivj’s gravity well now. However it is that a hyperdrive works with something that massive, a few more minutes might be enough.”

“Indeed,” Thrawn said. “There is a third possibility.”

“A third,” Faro murmured. Her voice holds concentration. The TIEs swarm past the group of tugs and continue toward the moon and the Grysk web.

“Perhaps an unfair question,” Thrawn said. “You do not possess all the facts.”

Faro’s back and shoulders straighten. Her body stance holds fresh understanding. “The Chiss prisoners,” she said. Her voice holds satisfaction at having solved the puzzle. “They want the moon, but they want the prisoners more. The ship holding them wants to escape, but its hyperdrive isn’t ready yet. And it’s still in the moon’s own gravity well. Until they’re ready they don’t dare run, because that would show us which ship has them.”

“Very good, Commodore,” Thrawn said. “And the reason all the ships do not leave now, which would maintain the prisoners’ concealment within numbers?”

“Because they can’t,” Faro said. Her voice holds dark amusement. “The two ships that came out to play were at the edges of the web. The others are deeper inside, and they can’t simply disengage. The ship we want is either at the edge—” She breaks off, her body stance holding a fresh level of understanding. “Or it’s hugging the web but not actually inside it.” She raises her voice loud enough to be heard in the crew pits. “Hammerly?”

“Yes, Commodore,” the sensor chief called back. “Scanning as per the admiral’s orders. The web’s emissions are still interfering with readings, but it’s clearing as we get closer.”

“How soon?” Thrawn asked.

“Two minutes,” Hammerly said. “Maybe less.”

“Signal Lieutenant Skerris,” Thrawn ordered. “Defender Squadron launch now.”

“Defender Squadron: Launch.”

The TIEs sweep past the tugs. The tugs in turn rotate a few degrees and turn full power to their drives. The emissions blast across the fighters, but have no effect on them. The momentary drive surge increases the tugs’ forward velocity. The tugs continue on their current vectors.

“Destroy all the enemy tugs,” Thrawn said. “Now.”

The Chimaera’s turbolasers open fire against the tugs. “Sir?” Faro asked. Her tone holds puzzlement.

“If their task was to intercept or slow the TIEs, they would have turned and attacked the squadrons from the rear,” Thrawn said. “They did not. Therefore, their purported attack against the TIEs was a ruse.”

“They’re armed,” Faro said. Her voice holds understanding. “Or carrying bombs.”

“I suspect the latter,” Thrawn said. “Their commander will know by now that I pursue information, and that I prefer capture to simple destruction. He seeks to use this against me.”

The tugs begin to disintegrate before the turbolaser barrage. The explosions are larger than expected from the detonation of reactors or thrusters. Conclusion: They are indeed carrying bombs.

“Yes, I see,” Faro said. “And now that that’s failed, and with the Defenders heading for them—”

“Admiral, one of the ships is breaking away,” Hammerly called. “Outside the net—we couldn’t tell that until just now. Accelerating and heading into the moon’s shadow.”

“Defenders: Intercept and disable,” Thrawn said. “Do not destroy. Repeat, do not destroy.”

The Defenders sweep around the surface of the moon in pursuit. The Grysk ship is not visible behind the moon, but the navigator has projected its course and vector on the tactical display. The Defenders are closing the gap. They will intercept before the Grysk ship escapes the moon’s gravity well.